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Trainer teams up with Boomer Bloodstock for Capitalist colt at Premier
Lindsey Smith’s aim to reinvent his image as a one-dimensional trainer of only stayers, picked up even more pace on Monday as he teamed up with Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock to secure a colt from the second crop of Newgate Farm’s leading two-year-old sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon) for $600,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
This is the second colt Smith has brought by the stallion at this year’s yearling sales, having purchased another colt by the sire for $220,000 at the Magic Million Perth Yearling Sale last month as he aims to train more juvenile winners next season.
Catalogued as Lot 492 and offered by Caithness Breeding, the colt is out of winning Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) mare Asheerah, whose two winners are headed by Listed-placed Alshibaa (Street Cry).
Asheerah herself is a daughter of 2006 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Rewaaya (Singspiel), while further back this is also the same family as Group 1 winner Sense Of Occasion (Street Sense).
Smith - who has recently set up a new training operation in Warrnambool - admitted to being nervous while he was bidding on the colt, with the price-tag the most he has ever paid for a horse.
“This is the best colt at the sale,” said Smith. “We thought we would get in while we could. We went in hard early and that didn’t work. I was about to give up, so I am very happy to get him.
“I was very nervous because I have never bought a horse that expensive before, but as I said he was the nicest colt I’ve seen in the sale.”
The second crop of Newgate Farm’s Capitalist have been particularly sought after in 2021 and over the first two days of trade, 11 of his progeny have sold for $2,170,000 at an average of $197,273 which is a healthy increase off a $55,000 (inc GST) stud fee.
Smith put in a bold $300,000 first bid, only to see others join in with almost as much enthusiasm.
"When you have got no money, you have to try something. It was a bit of a bluff, but it backfired on me. I moved to Melbourne and have to change my model and get some up-and-coming young horses. I always say you buy the one you like," he said.
“I bought one in Perth for $200,000 and as I said I am just trying to change my model and become a two-year-old trainer, which could be interesting to watch.”
For Caithness, it smashed their previous best result which was a Kermadec (Teofilo) yearling at last year’s Premier Sale which realised $230,000 and Sean Dingwall was understandably over the moon with the result.
“For him to make that sort of money today is outstanding, just absolutely amazing, I’m just so thrilled,’’ Dingwall said.
“When we came here and we do our budgets etc we valued him as a $200,000 colt at our upper limit with the real expectation that he might make $100,000…so a $300,000 opening bid was not expected, you might say, let alone a final price of $600,000.’’
The New South Wales-based operation purchased Asheerah from the Yarraman Park Stud draft for $80,000 at the Inglis Sydney Broodmare and Weanling Sale in 2018.
“She is a Shadwell mare and we bought her off Yarraman a few years ago. We took a Brazen Beau out of her and then put her in foal to Capitalist. She was a foal share, so we have got to thank Newgate as well for their support but ultimately we had an unbelievable specimen." Dingwell said.
