Placed at his first two starts in both lead up races to the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes behind High Octane and Bodyguard, Capitalist colt Holmes a Court broke his maiden in style when proving too good for the favourite Fully Lit in the Group III Canberra Black Opal Stakes (1200m) on Sunday.

Given the perfect stalking trip by Tommy Berry, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained son of Capitalist overpowered the favourite Fully Lit to win by one and a half lengths with another Capitalist colt Amazing Eagle a closing third.

Holding entries for the Golden Slipper and Sires’ Produce Stakes, Holmes a Court breaks his maiden at start three, taking his prizemoney to $219,500.

He is the fifth winner of the feature for Peter Snowden, who trained Epaulette when in charge at Darley, then in partnership with Paul Snowden, Defcon, Barbaric, and in 2021 with the Capitalist colt Kalashnikov.

An $850,000 Magic Millions purchase for China Horse Club/Newgate/Go/Trilogy from the Newgate draft, Holmes a Court was foaled and raised at Newgate and is the first foal of Menagerie, a winning half-sister to Group I winner Il Quello Veloce and stakes-winner Donna Cattiva from the family of Group I winning sprinters Tiger Tees and Terravista.

Menagerie missed in two subsequent seasons and is now back in foal to Capitalist.

One of four winners on Sunday for Capitalist, Holmes a Court is the 19th stakes-winner for Capitalist, who has 21 entries for Inglis Easter.