Capitalist tipped to get the money
CAN Capitalist successfully shoulder a record weight? Has Star Turn made the necessary improvement? Will the race produce another upset result?
Those questions and more will be answered when the six runners line up for what is an intriguing Group 3 $150,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill today.
Capitalist is having his first start since his brilliant Golden Slipper win back in March and he has been rated $1.80 favourite by UBET to make a winning return.
But Peter Snowden, who trains Capitalist in partnership with his son, Paul, conceded the 60kg the glamour colt has to carry today, and the weight he has to concede to his rivals, is “not ideal”.
“Last week’s race (Missile Stakes) would have been the better option for him but the track was too heavy,’’ Snowden said.
“But the decision to wait for this race doesn’t affect his program too much as he will have two weeks to his next start (Run To The Rose).
“I’m very happy with Capitalist. Both his barrier trials have been very good so we are hoping he gets the job done (today).’’
Form guru Gary Crispe pointed out that no San Domenico winner has carried the full 4kg penalty since the set weights and penalty conditions of the race were introduced a few years ago.
“This will be a real test for Capitalist,’’ Crispe said.
“He is a very good colt and his Timeform rating of 123 as a two-year-old is up there with the best of the modern era behind Sepoy and Dance Hero, who both had 125 ratings.
“But the 4kg he has to give a horse like Star Turn could be significant. Star Turn wasn’t far behind Capitalist in the Golden Slipper after doing everything wrong.
“Star Turn always gave the impression he would improve as he got older so it makes the San Domenico Stakes a very interesting race.’’
The Team Hawkes-trained Star Turn has been well-backed all week and is $3.50 second favourite, and the San Domenico Stakes hasn’t been kind to favourites over the years.
The San Domenico Stakes hasn’t been a kind race to favourites over the years with only four winning this century.
Foxwedge ($1.90, 2011) is the only odds-on winner during this period.
The Snowden stable has a powerful entry at Rosehill including favourites Extensible ($2.80, race 1) and Kangarilla Joy ($3, race 8).
The Snowdens are also a chance to secure a threeyear-old feature race double across two states today with the unbeaten Russian Revolution the $2.25 favourite for the Group 3 $150,000 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.