Newgate Farm’s Capitalist is the leading sire of Australian two year-old winners this season with the Bon Ho owned gelding Sniper Legend adding to the tally on Tuesday at Hawkesbury.
Trained by Matt Vella, Sniper Legend finished second on debut at Wyong on back in January, but some unruly behaviour since then and issues with loading to the gates resulted in him being gelded.
His trainer had his fingers crossed when Sniper Legend made his way to the barriers for Jason Collett, but it was all smooth sailing as the two year-old loaded without problem and jumped straight to the front when the gates opened.
He travelled well in the lead and kicked away to win the 1100m maiden against older horses by a length and a half.
Sniper Legend was a $170,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Mitchell Bloodstock from the Newgate Farm draft and was then prepared for the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale by Matt Vella and presented in his Glenn Haven Thoroughbreds draft with Bon Ho securing the youngster for $550,000.
The second highest priced horse sold at that sale, Sniper Legend galloped a furlong in 10.17 seconds which was the third fastest breeze of the sale.
Bred by SF Bloodstock and partners, Sniper Legend was foaled and raised at Newgate Farm and is the first foal of stakes-winner Lady Sniper.
Lady Sniper has a yearling filly and weanling colt by Russian Revolution and was on-sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale this year for $240,000 to Daandine Stud/ Boomer Bloodstock after missing to I Am Invincible on a late service.
Sniper Legend is the 19th first crop winner for Capitalist (18 in Australia and one in NZ), who is the leading sire of Australian 2YO winners this season and second only to his barn mate Extreme Choice on earnings.
Capitalist stands at a fee of $99,000 this spring.
