3 minute read

Son of Capitalist poised to shine in Golden Slipper

Co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden will be hoping Kalashnikov (Capitalist) can live up to their lofty expectations when he lines up in the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday. 

Kalashnikov finished fifth on debut in the Breeders’ Plate (Gr 3, 1000m), before disappointing on his next starts and broke his maiden against the older horses at Gosford on his fourth start. 

The colt broke through at stakes level in the Black Opal Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and he will jump from barrier 1 in the Golden Slipper. 

"Right from day one we thought this was our best two-year-old, our most precocious, he looked a racy type so it was disappointing to see what he did at his first couple of starts,'' Peter Snowden said.

"It was just too soon for him. When the gates opened his head went off and a pumpkin went on, he was doing things we wasn't doing at home or in the trials.

"We tipped him back out, freshened him with a view to concentrating on getting him to settle.

"It might have been a maiden but the way he won it and how strong he was late was the turning point. 

"To go on and frank it again, and run a really good time, the next start tells us he's on the right path.

"There's good speed around him, Stay Inside has drawn three and the leader (Profiteer) has drawn five, so they are going to jump and we'll get a spot following those speed horses. He'll give himself every chance."

Meanwhile, Team Snowden will also saddle Captivant (Capitalist) in the juvenile Group 1 on Saturday. 

Captivant broke his maiden on debut in the Victory Vein Plate (1000m), before running fourth in the Golden Gift (1100m) on a soft 6 and was last seen finishing third in the Skyline Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m). 

The colt is taking his chance in the Group 1, but Snowden has made no secret of the fact that his long term targets are the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m).

"They are going to go quick and we will ride him back to get home with a view to the Sires' and Champagne,'' Snowden said.

"They are the right races for him but he has worked well enough to say he's not going to be out of this race.

"I was going to run him last week but I'm glad I didn't because it was just so hot and it would be very hard to back him up. We're in the right rhythm and he will run really well but I think the Sires' and the Champagne are going to be the races for him after this."