Capitalist winners set sights on Gold Coast

5 min read
A treble of eye-catching wins by Capitalist-sired Magic Millions graduates put the spotlight on the big upcoming raceday, on a day where the Sale company launched its The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival.

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Within two hours on Saturday afternoon, a daughter and two sons of Newgate Farm stallion Capitalist produced bold performances, two of which are auditions for Magic Millions features on the Gold Coast on January 15.

The first leg of the treble came from 3-year-old filly Shihonka at Rosehill, and then undefeated 2-year-old colt Capital Tower struck gold at Doomben less than 45 minutes later. Talented colt Marine One last raced in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and was a dominant winner at Pakenham, however is unlikely to head to the Gold Coast as will be kept to sprint distances.

Capitalist | Standing at Newgate Farm

Saturday’s Cabra-Vale Diggers H. at Rosehill was a crucial litmus test for Shihonka. With the 1400 metres R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas looming on her horizon in six weeks, she stepped out beyond 1200 metres for the first time for this 1350-metre assignment against a talented field of older mares.

Ridden by Tim Clark, Shihonka led all the way and held out a determined challenge from Saigon (I Am Invincible) by 0.16l.

“It was her first time at the distance and she was there to be beaten, but she stuck on very well and kept finding,” said Adrian Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse.

“There is still improvement to come from her and with that in mind, and as we are getting her ready for the Magic Millions, she will need another run. We have options in Sydney or up north, so we will weigh all that up.

“She has done a great job today. She keeps improving every time she steps out and is a lovely filly.”

“She (Shihonka) has done a great job today. She keeps improving every time she steps out and is a lovely filly.” - Adrian Bott

Shihonka has now had six starts for three wins, two placings and more than $160,000 in stakes. She finished third in last season’s Listed Woodlands S., and her only time outside the placings came when she finished 11th and 5.35l from the winner in the G3 Thoroughbred Club S. at Caulfield in October.

Shihonka was bred by SF Bloodstock and was bought by Mitchell Bloodstock from the Newgate consignment at the 2019 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. She was later offered by Yarraman Park at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing secured her for $220,000.

Shihonka as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

The dam of Shihonka is Stroak (Real Saga), who won three races and placed in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. and the Listed Gold Edition Plate. Shihonka is her first foal.

A Towering win

Attention shifted north for Capitalist’s next flagbearer, Capital Tower, whose impressive debut win at Doomben on November 17 earned him $2.10 favouritism for Saturday’s Written By – 1st Yearlings Selling 2022 2YO H. at the same venue.

The Tony Gollan-trained colt lived up to the hype, producing a powerful finish when jockey James Orman pushed the button in the straight and sweeping to victory by 1.75l.

Capital Tower was bred by John Stuart Investments and is the first foal out of the Stratum mare Eiffel Tower. Herself a placegetter at the ages of two and three, Eiffel Tower is a three-quarter sister to the recent G3 Stewards’ H. winner Summer Monsoon (Stratum), and a half-sister to Incognitus S. winner Sangria (I Am Invincible).

Capital Tower as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

Offered by Vinery Stud at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Capital Tower was bought by John Foote Bloodstock for $600,000.

Marine One takes off

Marine One showed his class after recording a dominant win at Pakenham on Saturday, with the 3-year-old striding clear for apprentice Josh Richards by almost 2l.

Richards said the colt made his job easy.

"Dave said come out neutral on him. They’ve been doing a bit of work with him getting him to relax and he jumped, I pretty much just had to sit on him, he travelled up really strongly, he was only idling at the top of the straight and he did it easily," Richards said.

Purchased from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $500,000 by Kennewell Racing and Group 1 Bloodstock, he raced his first four starts for Lloyd Kennewell. He then changed to the Maher/Eustace stable, where he has now won three times in four starts, with his only non-winning effort being his last start 11th in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.

Co-trainer David Eustace was elated to get the colt back into top form for a collection of big-name owners.

Marine One as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

"It’s good to get a winner in these colours for Ozzie (Kheir), John O’Neil, Brae Sokolski, Matthew Sandblom and Henry Field and the Newgate boys so hopefully he will progress," said Eustace.

"He probably raced a little bit like we thought he might do. He was a little bit fresh early and was actually better once he got a bit of daylight between himself and the others in the straight when it opened up," said Eustace.

"He (Marine One) was a little bit fresh early and was actually better once he got a bit of daylight between himself and the others in the straight when it opened up." - David Eustace

"Instead of restraining him Josh did the right thing. He said pre-race he thought the rail was absolutely fine and once he got clear air and was able to let him slide he was quite impressive.

"He had a crossover (noseband) today but I’d say a bit of racing will straighten that out. He hasn’t really shown that before, lugging in the way he did, but we’ll work on those things as we work out where we go from here."

Marine One is unlikely to head north for the Magic Millions raceday, with connections indicating he will be kept to sprinting trips instead of stretching out to the 1400 metres of the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

Capitalist
Newgate Farm
Shihonka
Capital Tower
Marine One
Gai Waterhouse
Adrian Bott
Tony Gollan
Dave Eustace
Ciaron Maher