The Snowden stable has strengthened its grip on the two richest races of the summer with dominant winners in the Magic Millions lead-up races at Wyong.
Breeders’ Plate winner Capitalist more than justified his odds-on favouritism for Thursday’s $200,000 Magic Millions race and cemented his place at the top of the market for the $2 million 2YO Classic on January 9.
Capitalist
His dominant win came after his elder stablemate Flippant returned to form in the $100,000 Wyong Stakes to confirm her standing as a leading contender for the other $2 million race at the Gold Coast, the 3YO & 4YO Guineas.
With Blake Shinn riding confidently, Capitalist ($1.28) tracked the leaders into the straight before cruising to the front to beat new stablemate Niccolance, who joined Peter and Paul Snowden less than a week ago, by 2-3/4 lengths.
“To look at he tote board you’d think it’s easy but all races are hard to win,” Peter Snowden said.
“It’s a good result. He had the perfect run and he did everything right.”
Shinn was a little more effusive than the always measured Snowden.
“He has the X-factor about him,” he said.
“He oozes class and was always in control.
“He has a great attitude and a great action. I’m looking forward to the Gold Coast.”
Snowden was both pleased and relieved to see Flippant return to form after she came out of an unplaced run in the Brian Crowley Stakes with cardiac arrhythmia.
One of the younger brigade in the Wyong Stakes for three and four-year-olds, Flippant was having her first start since that disappointment in October.
“She is a lovely type with a great pedigree,” Snowden said.
“The Brian Crowley was totally out of character. Her two trials brought her along nicely and there’s a lot to like about her.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the close relation to multiple Group One winner Atlantic Jewel beat Egyptian Symbol by 1-1/4 lengths with Victorian Murt The Flirt another long neck third.
Capitalist is now at $1.90 to win at the Gold Coast while Flippant is the $6 Guineas second favourite behind the Darren Weir-trained Mahuta.
