Co-trainer Paul Snowden nominated Saturday's G2 Roman Consul S. as the next port-of-call for G1 Golden Slipper winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Capitalist (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) after the colt won a Randwick barrier trial on Tuesday.
Capitalist entered the spring as a highly anticipated sophomore off a 2-year-old campaign that also included a win in the A$2-million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, but he could manage only fourth of six first-up in Rosehill's G3 San Domenico S. in his first try on soft ground Aug. 13. Snowden told Racing.com after the chestnut's 1 1/2-length win in the 800-metre trial that the colt needs good ground.
“It's vital he gets dry ground, so let's hope for a nice, dry spring,” he said. Assessing the trial performance, he added, “He dipped a little coming to the corner. We had trials on the same course proper yesterday, and he got a wet patch coming around the corner. If you see the replay he had a little dip, but once he gathered himself up again, he was all sweet.”
Snowden when non-committal as to whether Capitalist could return to the glory he enjoyed last season, but he said the G1 Coolmore Stud S. during the Melbourne Cup Carnival remains the colt's primary target.
“It's a bit up in the air after his first-up run,” Snowden said. “He hasn't lost a leg. Everyone can see how good he's trialing, so hopefully we can stamp that this time in, and culminate in a Coolmore victory; that'd be awesome.”
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