Capitalist speedster Cannonball is back in top form ahead of the rich Magic Millions race day next month following a tenacious win in the Listed BRC Falvelon Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

A stakes-winner at two and Group winner at three, Cannonball was gelded after an unsuccessful trip to Royal Ascot in 2023 and transferred to Tony Gollan this year with the Magic Millions carnival in mind.

Always a horse to carry the type of burly condition not often seen in the birdcage, he needed the first run in Qld when seventh first-up, but Gollan produced him tighter second-up, and noticeably without a bead of sweat.

He was also $41 in the market. The second roughest of Gollan’s six runners in the race, which included the even money favourite Hidden Wealth.

It mattered little with Martin Harley having him midfield and looking comfortable into the straight where he found enough to kick and hold on to beat Oughton by a head with another Capitalist in King Kapa running third.

“They gelded him to see if we could get him to the Magic Millions Sprint,” said Gollan.

“I think I’ve got him right where I want him.

“It’s just a matter of getting him in the same shape and getting the same sort of track. He really wants good ground.”

Irish-born rider Martin Harley then gave an insight into a little of the Cannonball “enigma”.

“He built through the gears beautiful, but I made one mistake, I shouldn’t have hit him. When I hit him with the whip he actually stopped. When I let the whip down he ran on,” he said.

“As they say, we all get older and we get wiser and he certainly is.”

A $975,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Newgate Farm draft for James Harron Bloodstock, Cannonball was bred by China Horse Club, Newgate and partners and was the most expensive yearling by Capitalist sold at Magic Millions in 2021.

He has won four of 14 starts earning over $570,000 in prizemoney.

Cannonball is a full brother to Group II winner Marine One and a three-quarter brother to Group III placed Supercilious from stakes-winning Snitzel mare Golconda, who was also third in the Group I VRC Oaks.

Golconda has foaled this spring producing a filly by Capitalist and is back in foal to him again.