Trainer Paul Butterworth, based across the road at Eagle Farm, is celebrating with a huge team of owners after the star of his team scored a deserved breakthrough at stakes level.
Sent out at $19 after a string of excellent runs in the lead up races, Capital Gain was able to sustain a long and wide run to win the two-year-old feature impressively.
For 41-year-old trainer Butterworth the success was his first at racing’s elite level. The horseman spent time learning his craft with legendary trainer Bart Cummings.
The main concern Butterworth had when aiming Capital Gain at his grand final was getting connections to refuse a number of international offers for the youngster.
“I knew he was the best horse in the race,” Butterworth said. “But I’ve got to thank the owners for not selling.”
“The blinkers made the difference and you could see how well he was travelling in the run.”
Butterworth thinks the sky is the limit for the rising talent and suggested one of Australia’s most historic blue riband races will suit next year.
“I think he’s a Derby horse, but the Victorian Derby is too close, so he’ll have a break and get ready for the AJC Derby,” Butterworth told reporters.
Capital Gain travelled well throughout the race under Jim Byrne and raced a little handier with the addition of blinkers.
In the straight he was able to reel in his rivals and then hold out a late challenge but was simply too strong for Aloisia, while Taking Aim was another three parts of a length back in third place.
The hot favourite Melody Belle, a Group One winner in New Zealand, only battled in the straight after a nice run and wound up in 10th place at $1.75.
Capital Gain, who has dozens of owners, was purchased by his trainer in conjunction with Pharout Syndications for $50,000 at October’s Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale.
The youngster had breezed a few weeks earlier at the Seymour Racing Club for Moffatt Breaking and Pre Training and looked a promising youngster clocking 10.24 seconds under rider Jake Duffy.
The gelded son of Ad Valorem was previously offered at the 2016 Adelaide Yearling Sale where he was passed in just shy of his $20,000 reserve. At the sale he was presented by Redbank North.
As it stands now with just eight runs under his belt, Capital Gain has recorded two wins and three runner-up placings and earned his joyous connections over $450,000.
Not only was Capital Gain recording a first Group One win for his trainer, it was the same story for his sire Ad Valorem.
A winner of the Middle Park Stakes at Group One level at Newmarket at two, the son of Danzig is the sire of 14 stakes winners with his previous best being Champagne Classic winner Free Wheeling as well as Morton’s Fork, Meliora, Detours, Pied a Terre and Uate.
Capital Gain is the second runner for the winning Delzao mare Zuzao, a grandaughter of the Edward Manifold Stakes winner Darling Take Care.
Winner: Capital Gain
Breeding: Ad Valorem-Zuzao (Delzao)
Race: BRC JJ Atkins Stakes G1 (1600m)
Passed for: $18,000
Sale: 2016 Adelaide Yearling Sale
Vendor: Redbank North
Reserve: $20,000
Sold for: $50,000
Sale: 2016 Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale
Vendor: Moffatt Breaking & Pre-Training
Buyer: Pharout Syndications & Paul Butterworth
Earnings: $452,300
Owner(s): MR Blyth, RJ Purcell, GR Purcell, RJ Manwaring, RJ Manwaring, Mrs CE Chapman, Mrs CG Clarke, DM Meehan, Mrs DL Fitzgerald, DW Cabban, Mrs SF Wishart, PK Butterworth, SC Foley, Mrs N Foley, AR Wishart, RB Greenup & Phar Out Syndications (Mgr: Mrs HL Decru)
Trainer(s): Paul Butterworth (Eagle Farm)
