Early betting for Saturdayâs 2016 Missile Stakes in Sydney is dominated by the returning young star Capitalist who rival trainer Rodney Northam knows his horse Big Money could have a hard time running down.
Big Money (pictured) faces a big task in defeating odds-on favourite Capitalist in Saturday’s Missile Stakes 2016 at Royal Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.
All-in markets at Ladbrokes.com.au for the $175,000 Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) have the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Golden Slipper winner Capitalist as the odds-on $1.65 favourite.
The Written Tycoon colt debuts as a three-year-old in the weight-for-age sprint and was last seen posting his fourth win from five career starts in the $3 million Group 1 Golden Sipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 19.
The past three Golden Slipper winners before him â Vancouver (2015), Mossfun (2014) and Overreach (2013) â have all failed to win a subsequent race after claiming the worldâs richest event for two-year-olds.
Thatâs a hoodoo Capitalist will be out to break when he resumes in the Missile Stakes ahead of a run back against his own age on September 10 in the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Racecourse.
The young gun comes off back-to-back Randwick trial wins from last month and jockey Kerrin McEvoy partners the Missile Stakes favourite on the light weight before Blake Shinn jumps back aboard for the Golden Rose.
Big Money meanwhile is a veteran seven-year-old who pays $6 occupying the third line of all-in Missile Stakes odds to upset the top fancy.
Prepared at Scone by Northam, the Choisir gelding was last seen finishing second to John Sargentâs Hong Kong import Smart Volatility in the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton on July 13.
Saturday will be Big Moneyâs sixth look at Rosehill where he races for the first time since his third behind Our Boy Malachi in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) back in January.
Success in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Randwick followed for the honest sprinter who chases his first win since in the Missile.
Northam is thrilled with the last start performance of Big Money and how he pulled-up after the Ramornie.
“He’s come through the race really well,” Northam told AAP.
“He went to the paddock straight after it for three or four days and then the rain came so I brought him in.â
Still, Northam knows Capitalist is the deserving favourite and one to beat this weekend in the opening Group race of the new season.
“He looked super race-fit in both trials but the 1200 metres first-up could make him a little bit vulnerable – and that’s all I can find to make him look vulnerable,” Northam said of Team Snowdenâs $3.5 million earner.
Capitalistâs regular rider Shinn may not have been able to get down to the Missile Stakes weight, but will partner the stableâs $41 roughie hope Tycoon Tara in the race.
Following Saturday, Northam plans to back Big Money up at the Randwick track on August 20 in the $125,000 Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) before a possible trip south to chase the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival riches at the tail end of the year.
“We’ll give him this run and see how he pulls up,” Northam said.
“He’ll have a couple of runs, then we’ll give him a break and bring him back before for the end of spring or summer in Melbourne.”
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