It’s been a good weekend for Capitalist with a smart stakes-winner I’mLovin’Ya, the highest priced yearling at the Inglis HTBA Sale and a good winner at Sha Tin on Sunday with Blue Marlin adding to his impressive strike rate in the region.
Trained by Douglas Whyte and ridden by Harry Bentley, Blue Marlin was having his fourth start and hit the line with plenty of determination to win the 1400m contest by the best part of a length.
“Blue Marlin’s taken a bit of time, mentally. He’s been a work in progress, but thankfully we’re seeing the better side of him, he still gets a little bit nervous and anxious behind the gates. In time, when he learns to settle, I think he’s got scope,” Whyte said.
A $150,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Michael Hickmott Bloodstock Pty Ltd from the Newgate Farm draft, Blue Marlin was an impressive barrier trial winner in Adelaide before his sale to Hong Kong.
He is a half-brother to Group II placed Press Report and is the fourth winner from Grenada, a Dolphin Street (Fr) grand-daughter of Group III winner Cheval Place.
Blue Marlin is the fifth Hong Kong winner from eight starters for Capitalist, who is also set to have a runner at Royal Ascot this year with James Harron Bloodstock announcing plans for the Peter and Paul Snowden trained colt Cannonball to run in the Group I King’s Stand Stakes.
Cannonball won the Group III ATC Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) during the Sydney Autumn Carnival and was a last start third in the Group I ATC The Galaxy.
