Capitalist gelding Hedged has always shown above average ability, splitting G1 winners Joliestar and Libertad when second in the 2024 Group II ATC Arrowfield Sprint and the now five year-old claimed his first stakes win at Sandown on Boxing Day when taking out the Listed MRC Christmas Stakes (1200m).
Now trained by Gavin Bedggood after starting his career with the Price Kent stable, Hedged was sent off favourite for this assignment after a frustrating spring campaign when he remained winless, albeit running well in good company.
Harry Coffey allowed Hedged to chime into contention with 250m to run and he powered clear to win as he pleased by two and a half lengths taking his overall record to five wins and eight placings from 22 starts with prizemoney topping $828,000.
The win capped an amazing day for his trainer Gavin Bedggood, who also won the Group I Zabeel Classic in New Zealand with blueblood stayer Kingswood (GB), read about him here.
“He had a tough run and he was too good," Coffey said.
"He covered extra ground, faced the breeze, with all that being said he was probably in the best rhythm he's been in.
"Although Gav … would've loved a little bit of cover in the one-one, when that wasn't going to eventuate I had to do my own thing.
"He put on a galloping lesson and was too good."
A $140,000 Magic Millions purchase for Mick Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd/Roll The Dice Racing/Rogers Bloodstock, Hedged was bred and sold by Yulong and is the best of two winners from Acing Shamrock, an unraced half-sister by Fastnet Rock to Group II winner Nafaayes from US Group III winner Decelerator (USA).
Yulong will offer the yearling half-brother by Written Tycoon to Hedged at Magic Millions as Lot 20 and Acing Shamrock foaled this spring producing a filly by Alabama Express.
Hedged is the 28th stakes-winner for Capitalist, who has 32 entries for 2026 Magic Millions.
