Our champion young sires Capitalist and Russian Revolution have been fast into stride this season and both posted exciting new three year-old winners on Thursday.
Entered for the Group III MRC Vain Stakes on Saturday, Capitalist gelding Hedged was given an easier assignment by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr taking on a maiden at Seymour on Thursday instead and he won in a canter.
Gelded after finishing third on debut at Ballarat back in March, Hedged resumed with a fourth at Moonee Valley in Saturday class behind Title Fighter and took plenty of benefit from that run.
Ridden by Beau Mertens like he was the best horse in the race, Hedged went forward from an outside draw, but was posted wide before being allowed to pull his way to the front and he kept up a good gallop to win the 1100m maiden by four and a half lengths.
“We didn’t have a set plan from the wide gate, so I was happy to choose one when we jumped,” said Beau Mertens.
“He built himself up to the spot we were in and was comfortable doing so and it was good to see him do what he did.”
A $140,000 Magic Millions purchase for Mick Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd/Roll The Dice Racing/Rogers Bloodstock, he was bred and sold by Yulong and is the first winner for Acing Shamrock, an unraced half-sister by Fastnet Rock to Group II winner Nafaayes from US Group III winner Decelerator (USA).
Russian Revolution was in the frame at Hawkesbury when the Peter and Paul Snowden trained filly Hampton Queen powered home to beat hot favourite Bonita Queen by a neck in the 1000m maiden on debut.
“She has been taken along quietly as she needed some time to develop,” Paul Snowden said.
“This race is a lot shorter than what she needs in time. She has been a bit aggressive, hence the reason we started off at the shorter trip.
“As long as she learns to settle, she would have no trouble with seven furlongs. In the meantime, small steps, and we can progress to something further later.”
A $360,000 Inglis Premier purchase for China Horse Club from the Sledmere Stud draft, Hampton Queen is a half-sister to Group II ATC Sweet Embrace Stakes winners Always Allison and Group II-placed Kyria being the fifth winner from Rhema, a sibling to Group I Victoria Derby winner Benicio and Group winners Romneya and Roheryn.
Another promising winner at Hawkesbury was the Newgate bred and sold filly August Bloom, who kickstarted her spring campaign with a first up win in the 1300m maiden for Peter and Paul Snowden stable as a short priced favourite.
Fourth in the Group II ATC Sweet Embrace Stakes and third in the Group III ATC Magic Night Stakes in the autumn, August Bloom shook off maiden status at her fourth start and will no doubt be returning to Black Type company.
A $510,000 Inglis Easter purchase from Newgate for China Horse Club, August Bloom is a half-sister by More Than Ready (USA) to ill-fated stakes-winner Extremetime, Group I placed Carcaro and stakes-placed Miss Hellfire being the fourth winner from Peace Time (USA).
Peace Time is due to foal to Snitzel this spring at Newgate.
