Timely Profiteering: Impressive Capitalist colt possesses golden pedigree for a Slipper
Can one race cause the industry to erupt?
This is, of course, in reference to the Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m), held at Randwick on Saturday, February 6 and featuring a runaway winner.
A surprising aspect of the brilliant front-running display by big-margin winner Profiteer (Capitalist) is not merely the swiftness of his performance but also the swiftness of the reaction in the sale ring over the following 48 hours.
The two-year-old chestnut colt was the subject of a majority buy-back by Newgate Farm days prior to the running of the Inglis Millennium, having sold him this time last year at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $165,000. Nevertheless, the original owners have every right to be congratulating themselves after witnessing such a dominant raceday effort.
Despite the Soft 5 track, Profiteer’s sectionals were impressive, as was the manner in which he continued to draw further clear over the entire 1100-metre journey. The extra 100 metres of the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) should not present any problem whatsoever.
Whether his competition has, so far, been stiff enough remains to be seen but on debut (December 12) his slashing 33.3 seconds for the closing 600 metres at Flemington is well worthy of respect. His 1:02.8 for the 1100 metres was not too shabby either.
The response was immediate and immense.
On day one at last week’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale his sire, Newgate Stud’s Capitalist (Written Tycoon), set a new record (for this sale) of $600,000 for Lot 182, a chestnut colt. That record lasted barely 24 hours when Lot 374, also a chestnut colt, made $625,000.
The clamour for Capitalist’s yearlings also carried over to his fillies with three offerings (Lots 13, 154 and 396) fetching between $260,000 and $380,000.
Mick Malone of Kitchwin Hills, who prepared the sale-topping colt on behalf of Scone veterinarian Richard McClenahan, summed up the furore: “It is a perfect storm, isn’t it? The horse wins the Millennium and here we are – Profiteer just added so much value to the colt,” Malone said. “It would be interesting to know what that horse was worth if that horse hadn’t won. It probably added $200,000 to $300,000 to his price.”
Capitalist’s oldest progeny are two-year-olds and Profiteer is his first stakes winner.
On potential, Profiteer has that in spades. His racing style is reminiscent of Vain (Wilkes), Todman (Star Kingdom) and Manikato (Manihi) – all winners of the Golden Slipper, a race which is now clearly the target for Profiteer, whose influence on the Australian bloodstock market after just two racetrack starts has been profound.
One of the greatest examples of one horse greatly influencing the industry took place in the middle of last century. The country was New Zealand and the horse was Mainbrace (Admiral’s Luck), the Chestnut Thunderbolt, whose race record was nothing short of outstanding.
In 25 starts New Zealand Hall of Famer Mainbrace was defeated just twice. At two on debut he finished third, then finished off the season unbeaten in his remaining six starts. His first start at three saw him beaten by The Unicorn (Gold Nib), who was also responsible for Mainbrace’s debut defeat, then proceeded to win 15 on the trot. At four he stepped out just twice, taking his winning tally to 17, then suffered the cramps which turned out to be a blocked artery in a hind leg.
His sire Admiral’s Luck was the first son of Precipitation (Hurry On) to stand at stud in New Zealand and Mainbrace was from his first of only four crops.
Precipitation being the flavour of the month, combined with Admiral’s Luck’s premature demise, two more sons were soon recruited by NZ studs. Summertime became Champion NZ Sire three times and Count Rendered twice. Agricola would follow a little later to become Champion Sire in Australia in 1967-68.
As if that were not enough, New Zealand stud masters raided England for Admiral’s Luck’s half-brothers, from Gainsborough Lass (Gainsborough), Knight’s Romance (Royal Charger), his brother Pride of Kildare plus Resurgent (The Phoenix). All enjoyed well above average success as sires.
Profiteer has quite a lot in front of him yet, however current buyers of Capitalist stock may be proven prudent after being blown away by his son’s dazzling five-and-a-quarter-length success.
The mighty prize and prestige of the Golden Slipper is the driving force for many industry leaders as winning it provides a massive launching pad for any prospective future stallion.
Of course, Capitalist himself captured the race in 2016, but that is far from the only incidence of the Golden Slipper looming large in his bloodlines.
Capitalist’s paternal grandsire Iglesia (Last Tycoon) is out of a mare by Marscay (Biscay), the 1982 Golden Slipper winner, while the granddam of Capitalist’s sire, Written Tycoon, is by 1969 winner, the incomparable Vain (Wilkes).
Capitalist’s Group 3-winning granddam, Compulsion, is a Danehill (Danzig) sister to the 1996 Golden Slipper victress Merlene. Their dam, Bold Promise, is the daughter of 1977 Golden Slipper hero Luskin Star (Kaoru Star).
Regarding Profiteer’s female family it, too, reveals heavy influence of the stallion-making race. Profiteer’s paternal grandsire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) is from a daughter of 1990 winner Canny Lad (Bletchingly).
His fifth dam, Polished, is by Vain (see above) and Polished’s dam Star Facet (Sostenuto) is a half-sister to the 1970 winner and Triple Crown Champion Baguette (Rego).
They were from the fabulous producer Dark Jewel who, not only was by Star Kingdom (Stardust), sire of the first five winners of the Slipper, but foaled five stakes winners including three Group 1 winners: Baguette (above), dual Group 1 champion Cabachon (Edmundo) plus Baguette’s sister, the VATC One Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 8f) winner Heirloom (Rego).
Profiteer became the 41st stakes winner to descend directly from Dark Jewel. They include seven Group 1 winners, the others being Spinning Hill (Dolphin Street) with three Group 1 successes, Cinder Bella (Victory Dance) (2) plus The Quarterback (Street Boss) and Danglissa (Danzero), Profiteer’s third dam.
The big question is: can Profiteer join his blood relatives (on both sides of his pedigree) and take out the great race?
With the race five weeks away, we don’t have too long to wait.