Punters that laid the odds-on had only the briefest concern before Capitalist raced away to a dominant victory in Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast.

Blake Shinn was keen to hold the inside running from barrier two and for a stride or three was pressured on his outside by Highland Beat before holding the rail.

Shinn looked to be swinging on his mount around the home turn and when he gave Capitalist his head the response was immediate, the $1.40 favourite accelerating away to defeat Nikitas ($11) by 2 1/2-lengths with Candika ($26) a half length away third.

Peter Snowden, who trains the son of Written Tycoon in partnership with son Paul, admitted he had concerns about getting to this race.

“We dodged a bullet when he had an elevated temperature two weeks ago,” Snowden said.

“At one stage we feared he might have to be turned out but he got over it quickly and worked well at Randwick last week,

“He probably raced a bit closer than we expected today but he jumped very well and Blake was able to put him in a key position.”

Snowden said he is expecting improvement from Capitalist.

“It was only his second run back from a spell,” Snowden said. “It isn’t as though he was having his fourth or fifth run in. I can give him a week to 10 days off and then make up my mind,

“At this stage I am leaning towards a Slipper run. You never know exactly what you have because he just keeps improving,”

Shinn said Capitalist has several attributes that combine to make him the ideal two-year-old.

“One of his best attributes is that he wants to work with you,” Shinn said,

“I wanted to hold the rail. I’m lucky the horse has such a great attitude. We held our spot and once he was out in clear room it was never in doubt,”

Shinn would not be drawn when asked how he compared Capitalist with Sebring, on whom Shinn won an ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes after Glen Boss rode the colt to win the Golden Slipper.

“One is a Golden Slipper and the other is a Magic Millions winner,” Shinn said.

“What this horse has is speed. He’s a real professional and like I said, he’s got such speed that you just want to let him use it.”

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