Back in 2020, the Magic Millions Yearling Sale marked the first opportunity to purchase yearlings by Champion 2YO Capitalist and one of the most expensive colts by the Golden Slipper winner at the Gold Coast also turned out to be his best.
A stylish dark brown colt throwing noticeably in type to his dam sire Commands, Captivant attracted the attention of the big stallion syndicates with China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Starlight Racing securing him for $550,000.
With a female family bristling with speed stakes-winners tracing to influential producer Ride the Rapids, Captivant was sent to the stables of Peter and Paul Snowden and quickly showed the sort of G1 ability and precocity to match his pedigree.
Captivant became the first winner for his sire when taking out the ATC Victory Vein Plate (1000m) before Christmas on debut and by the end of the season was also the first Group I winner for his with a career defining victory in the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m).
He ran Top Five in all three legs of the Sydney 2YO Triple Crown and his winning time for the Champagne Stakes of 1.34.30 was the second quickest in history.
Captivant returned at three to split outstanding colts Anamoe and Artorius when second in a vintage renewal of Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas which produced a race record time and earned him a Timeform rating of 121.
Captivant remains the best horse sired so far by Capitalist, whose own sire Written Tycoon has gone from strength to strength producing this year’s Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas winner Private Life and Group I New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Captured by Love.
Kia Ora embarked on the path of standing stallions courtesy of Golden Slipper winner Farnan and blueblood Redoute’s Choice son Prague with Captivant providing an appealing opportunity to bring in the outcross blood of Written Tycoon into the mix.
Farnan is already doing the job for Kia Ora with his first winner the top class Waterhouse and Bott trained colt North England, who is in the market for the 2025 Golden Slipper following his classy win in the $1million ATC Golden Gift.
“Farnan has gotten off to a great start with North England obviously and has had a number of other good triallers through December, so we couldn’t be happier with him and now it’s Captivant’s turn,” said Kia Ora Stud’s Shane Wright.
Lot 512 Filly Captivant x Insta Erma (USA), by Pioneerof the Nile
Fourth foal of Group I placed Group III winner Insta Erma from a prolific Black Type family, she is strong correct and easy to deal with.
Lot 605 Colt Captivant x Liz’s Cable Girl (USA), by Cable Boy
Second foal of fast multiple stakes-winning sprinter Liz’s Cable Girl, who won 13 races and this colt has good size, strength and scope and he’s an athletic looking type.
Alma Vale Thoroughbreds are super happy with their cracking black colt from Glamour Gal that will be offered as Lot 439 and is a half-brother to stakes-winner Glamour Tycoon, who is by Captivant’s grand-sire Written Tycoon.
Bhima Thoroughbreds are offering Lot 832, the half-brother to stakes-placed Ortega from Group III placed Rayas (NZ).