Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, talented Capitalist gelding Hurtle won a barrier trial at Morphettville last November, but has been given time since then and stepped out for his first start in the 1100m juvenile maiden on the synthetic track at Ballarat on Monday.
He jumped well for Dean Holland to take up the lead and travelled smoothly throughout before powering away down the straight to win eased down by five and a half lengths.
Hurtle was a $120,000 Inglis Premier purchase for McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Cornerstone Stud draft and was a successful pinhook having been first purchased by Cornerstone for $85,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale from the Kingstar Farm draft.
Bred by Kingstar Farm, Hurtle is the second winner from Group III placed Murtle Turtle, a half-sister by Murtajill to stakes-placed Excavator.
Kenmore Lodge sold a weanling colt by Extreme Choice at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale last week for $220,000 to Bevan Smith Bloodstock/Ferguson Bloodstock.
Hurtle is the 16th first crop winner – 15 in Australia and one in NZ – for Capitalist, who is the leading first crop sire and overall 2YO sire this season.
Capitalist stands at Newgate Farm this spring at a fee of $99,000.
