Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott drew first blood on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington when progressive Capitalist gelding Kaizad opened his stakes account in the Group III VRC Carbine Club Stakes (1600m).

Ridden by Tim Clark, Kaizad led at every call to win by half a length taking his overall record to two wins and three placings from six starts with prizemoney topping $386,000.

“He’s terrific, Tim (Clark). He just understands pace perfectly. He bounced him out of the gates, got him right on the bunny, and it was, see you later, alligator,” Gai Waterhouse said.

“He’s improved out of sight. He was the most nerdy two-year-old and then the moment he was gelded he changed his attitude and he’s never looked back.

“This is a really good win today. It is a hard race to win, the Carbine Club, and it is nice to win it with a nice horse so I’m really pleased.”

Tim Clark said he played to the Capitalist gelding’s strengths.

“He’s got great tactical speed and we were able to utilise that,” he said.

“I wanted to make sure we didn’t back off it too much and turn it into too much of a sit-sprint and tested the rest of the oppositions’ stamina.

“He’s made leaps and bounds this preparation. He’s a completely different horse and obviously the gelding operation played a part in that but also a bit of maturity as well.”

Kaizad was bred and sold by Kitchwin Hills fetching $300,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale when bought by Silverdale Farm/Andrew Williams Bloodstock, before being re-offered in the Silverdale Farm draft at Inglis Classic where he made $390,000 when bought by G Waterhouse / A Bott / Blueblood Thoroughbreds.

He is a full brother to stakes-placed Socialist and half-brother to Group I placed Cornrow being the eighth winner from eight to race from stakes-winning Exceed and Excel mare Baby Corn.

Kaizad is the 16th stakes-winner for Capitalist.