Peter and Paul Snowden are looking to Captivant to consolidate on a superb first-up performance with another competitive showing against Sydney’s brightest three-year-olds.
The colt captured the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) in the autumn and was expected to find his rivals too sharp when he resumed in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) last month.
But he showed surprising dash to finish third to In The Congo, beaten a half-length.
“I didn’t expect him to be that close for a start, and I didn’t expect him to stick on,” trainer Peter Snowden said.
“I thought he might have run his race a bit back to front and he might be soft late, but he was just the opposite.
“He was good early, good middle and good late. I was really happy with the performance.”
Captivant has continued to please the stable since as he prepares for a showdown with fellow Group 1 winners Stay Inside, Anamoe and Converge in a thrilling edition of The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
His last-start conqueror In The Congo is also there, along with promising colts Home Affairs and Remarque in a talent-laden field.
Snowden expects Captivant to continue to improve as he rises in journey and while the Golden Rose (1400m) in two weeks is his immediate goal, there is an open door to the remainder of the spring.
He has been entered for the Caulfield Guineas, Epsom Handicap and Cox Plate and his next two runs will determine which race connections target.
“The (Golden) Rose will tell us how we’re going and where we’re going,” Snowden said.
“The options are there. It will only be his third run in, so there will be room to move.”
Captivant was at $16 with TAB fixed odds for The Run To The Rose on Friday and $13 for the Golden Rose.
