Written by Paul Vettise
The connections of Profiteer (Capitalist) will have to decide whether to chase the money or Group glory with the promising colt who made an impressive start to his career at Flemington.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Profiteer produced a professional display on Saturday to bolt away with the #LovetheHorse and launch his career in the best possible way.
He was into stride quickly to make the running and when asked for a serious effort he lengthened stride impressively to win untested and set up an exciting post-Christmas campaign.
“He’s got really good gate speed and can go at a good tempo and then find again. He’s got a really big action, light on his feet and a real 2-year-old type,” Kent Jnr said.
“He’s an Inglis horse so the obvious ones are the Millennium, which is in February and worth $2 million, or to have a go at the G1 Blue Diamond S. We’ll get back and talk to the boss Mick Price and the owners on Monday morning.
“He can only improve because he’s had a pretty light preparation and it’s exciting for all those involved.”
“He can only improve because he’s had a pretty light preparation and it’s exciting for all those involved.” – Michael Kent Jnr
Bred by SF Bloodstock, Profiteer was purchased by Rogers Bloodstock and Roll The Dice Racing for $165,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where he was offered by Newgate.
“Real credit to Jeremy Rogers who found the horse at the Classic Sale for Roll The Dice and we love training for them, they’ve got a really good colt,” Kent Jnr said.
He is the only foal to race so far for Athena Lass (Snitzel), who was a 2-year-old winner and ran third in the G3 Quezette S. She is a half-sister to the Listed Gibson Carmichael S. winner Euryvale (Lonhro) and the family of the dual black type winner and sire Unite And Conquer.
Profiteer as a yearling
Profiteer was ridden by Michael Dee and he perfectly executed a pre-race plan to have 2.75l to spare at the line on Ranveer (Winning Rupert) with Sunday Yum Cha (Territories {Ire}) landing the cheque for third.
“He said pre-race he wanted to let him roll a bit early and get him to relax and he did that beautifully. Mick has done all the work on this horse and he just travelled so sweetly and exploded,” Kent Jnr said.
Dee never had a moment’s concern with Profiteer and expected him to be much better for the experience.
“I’ve jumped him out a couple of times and galloped him and he’s just improved each time he’s done a bit of fast work. I think there’s still improvement to come from him,” he said.
“He’s got a lot of natural speed and talent. We rolled along and he was comfortable and that was the key and he ran strongly through the line.”
