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).
Newgate Farm’s Capitalist has nine winners on the board since August 1 and is poised for further success with his biggest ever crop of two year-olds gearing up to race this season.
