Cover image courtesy of Newgate
Snowden has a proven track record with the progeny of Capitalist, his own G1 Golden Slipper winner, having already trained Group 1 Champagne Stakes winner Captivant, along with stakes winners Memo, Kalashnikov, and Holmes A Court. This time it was Gosford where Snowden unveiled a promising colt and filly by the proven son of Written Tycoon.
Hail Caesar: A triumphant debut
A striking debut win at Gosford on Thursday marked a promising beginning for Caesar, a Capitalist colt purchased for $800,000 from Attunga Stud by James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership. As the highest-priced Capitalist yearling sold in 2024, Caesar delivered on his price tag with a composed and classy performance.
Caesar had already caught the eye with strong trial form, winning at Randwick over 740 metres on 30 May, then again at Rosehill over 1030 metres on 20 June. On debut, in the hands of Jason Collett, Caesar settled just off the speed, and showed a sharp late turn of foot, surging past long-time leader Triple Triple (Justify {USA}) to win by just over half a length.
“He’s got so much to learn, you could see how raw he was then, he didn’t really work it out until 50 metres to go, he’s got massive ability, he just has to learn how to race." trainer Peter Snowden said
“He’s (Caesar) got so much to learn, you could see how raw he was then, he’s got massive ability, he just has to learn how to race.” - Peter Snowden
If we went to the city first time, he would probably have come undone in town, they went quicker than I thought they would, but when he concentrated, he found five lengths in a matter of two strides for him.
“He’s got talent, he just has to put it all together, and there is no doubt he will keep on improving, but probably next prep you will see the best of him, but he is a really nice horse, I like him a lot.”
Caesar is the seventh winner from eight runners out of Fimatino (Not A Single Doubt), herself a two-time winner. Her best performer to date is Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}), an outstanding juvenile who won the G3 Breeders’ Plate, G3 Pago Pago Stakes, and the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Further back in the pedigree are G1 WS Cox Plate winner and successful sire Shamus Award, and the Listed winning sprinter Insurrection (Russian Revolution).
Caesar as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Fimatino continues to prove her value in the breeding shed. Her I Am Invincible filly fetched $460,000 at Magic Millions earlier this year, sold to Tom Magnier, Charles Shanahan, Megan O’Leary and Neasham & Archibald Racing. She has a Home Affairs weanling filly on the ground, and missed to Capitalist last spring.
All class: Nazwah dominates on debut under a hold
Although Caesar impressed, it was fellow Snowden-trained Capitalist filly Nazwah who truly stole the show at Gosford. The Emirates Park homebred filly delivered a dazzling display on debut, leading from start to finish and winning by just over three lengths pretty much untouched.
Nazwah surged forward early for Tom Sherry, controlled the pace, and kicked away turning for home, doing it all under a hold in a performance brimming with natural ability.
The filly is beautifully bred. She is the fifth live foal, and fifth winner from Najoom (Northern Meteor), a five-time winner including the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas and G3 Fred Best Classic. Najoom has already produced the Group 1 winning filly Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) and dual Listed winner Najmaty (I Am Invincible).
“The win of Nazwah was very good today. We know she has ability and lots of speed, but it was very good to see her do it at both ends of the race today. Bryan Carlson, General Manager of Emirates Park said.
“She is regally bred being from Najoom and a half-sister to Charm Stone.”
“She (Nazwah) is regally bred being from Najoom and a half-sister to Charm Stone.” - Bryan Carlson
When asked about what’s next for the filly, Carlson added:
“We will discuss with Peter (Peter Snowden) but I would say we put her out and we will come back for spring races in mind.”
Nazwah might be remembered as the one that got away for potential buyers, not just once, but twice. She was passed in at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, failing to meet her $300,000 reserve, and again at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale where she was offered as an unraced 2-year-old and passed in at $560,000 narrowly short of her $600,000 reserve.
Nazwah as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We thought we would offer her as a trialled 2-year-old and see what the market thought, we were happy to keep hold of her.” Carlson said
Earlier this year at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Emirates Park sold another I Am Invincible filly out of Najoom for $425,000 to the combination of Snowden, Trilogy Racing, and Suman Hedge Bloodstock. Najoom is due to foal to Tassort in early September, after missing to Justify (USA) the season before.
Capitalist: Proven speed influence
The Gosford double takes Capitalist’s tally to 16 individual 2-year-old winners this season across Australia and New Zealand.
Among them is Memo, who has earned just under $770,000 this season and won the G3 Magic Night Stakes. She also placed in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, R. Listed Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic, and the G3 Gimcrack Stakes.
Memo | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
In New Zealand, the Stephen Marsh-trained To Cap It All had a brilliant three race campaign, winning the Listed Wellesley Stakes on debut at Trentham before placing in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, and the G1 Sistema Stakes.
Capitalist now boasts 366 individual winners and 24 stakes winners, including G1 Champagne Stakes victor Captivant, who stands at stud, and the talented Reserve Bank, winner of the G1 Goodwood Handicap, G2 Tobin Bronze Stakes, and Listed Redelva Stakes, and likely to join the stallion ranks in due course.
Based at Newgate Farm, Capitalist stands for $44,000 (inc. GST) in 2025 and continues to strengthen his reputation as one of the nation’s most consistent sires of juvenile speed.
Capitalist | Standing at Newgate
