The recent three-year-old domination in weight-for-age sprint races has helped Peter Snowden make the decision to run Capitalist in Friday week's Group I Manikato Stakes (1200m).
In the past fortnight Extreme Choice beat all comers, including superstar Chautauqua, in the Group I Moir Stakes (1000m) before Star Turn made light work of his opponents in the Group II Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
Both Extreme Choice and Star Turn are headed for a mouth-watering clash with the likes of Astern, Russian Revolution and Wednesday's Blue Sapphire winner Flying Artie in the Group I Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on October 29 but Snowden decided to change tact.
"I thought long and hard about it but for me it sets up well the way the three-year-olds have been racing against the older horses," Snowden, who trains Capitalist in partnership with his son Paul, said.
"That weight relief is very good. I know he's meeting some good horses but he's a good sprinter and getting six kilos off them is not easy (for the older horses) as was shown the other night.
"I think it's a good fit for him. If he gets around the track well, he'll run very well."
Capitalist had his first look around Moonee Valley on Thursday morning, galloping over 800 metres in 52.11 seconds, covering the last 400 metres of his work in a sharp 23.47 seconds with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
"His work was strong," Snowden said. "He had a good look around, I'm glad I brought his here actually.
"I thought watching him he was a bit relaxed, taking a bit too much in and I was surprised to see what he did (time).
"He'll benefit from the experience of coming here this morning."
Snowden said Capitalist is likely to head back to Moonee Valley next Tuesday for an appearance at Breakfast with the Best indicating "he won't work as hard as he did here this morning".
