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Newgate Farm-based sire extends his lead in the first season sires table with Hurtle breaking his maiden on debut

Newgate Farm-based first season sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon) extended his lead in the leading first season sires table in Australia, for both earnings and winners, on Monday when the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Hurtle (3 g ex Murtle Turtle by Murtajill) broke his maiden on debut in the Suez Maiden Plate (1100m) at Ballarat on Monday. 

Having his first career start, the gelding was impressive to pull away to a five and a half length victory over Rock Melody (All Too Hard). 

Hurtle has been through the sales ring twice; seling for $85,000 to Cornerstone Stud from the draft of his breeder, Kingstar Farm, at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Weanling Sale and then sold the following year to McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock for $120,000 from the draft of Cornerstone Farm at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. 

Placed at Group 3 level, Murtle Turtle is catalogued as Lot 929 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale this week and she is being offered in foal to Arrowfield Stud shuttler Shalaa (Invincible Spirit). Her weanling colt by Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) made $220,000 at last week's National Weanling Sale when bought by Bevan Smith and Ferguson Bloodstock from the draft of Kemore Lodge, who will offer Murtle Turtle this week. 

Capitalist has now sired 15 winners in Australia, four clear of his nearest rival Star Turn (Star Witness) while progeny career earnings total $3,069,968 in Australia, $400,000 clear of his barnmate Extreme Choice who is sitting second in the table by earnings. Capitalist's first crop include four stakes winners headed by Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Captivant and Group 3 winner Kalashnikov.