The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Capitalist (Written Tycoon) has been retired to stud after he was found to have chipped a fetlock when training towards the Darley Classic (registered as the VRC Stakes) (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington.

The colt won the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) by half a length from top-class filly Yankee Rose (All American) at Rosehill in March and was later crowned the champion Australian two-year-old.

Purchased by James Harron Bloodstock out of the Daandine Stud draft for $165,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year, Capitalist won four of his seven career starts for total prize money earnings of $3,545,900.

Winner of the Breeders’ Plate (Listed, 1000m) on debut last October, Capitalist won the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1100m) before adding the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) at the Gold Coast in January.

In his two outings this preparation, Capitalist ran fourth in the San Domenico Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) in August before finishing a close third behind Russian Revolution (Snitzel) and Astern (Medaglia d’Oro) in the Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) on 1 October.

The son of Written Tycoon (Iglesia) was originally on target for a tilt at the Coolmore Stud Stakes (registered as the Ascot Vale Stakes) (Gr 1, 1200m) last month but was scratched after suffering a stone bruise, and, after this latest setback, connections have decided to retire him to stand at Newgate Farm in the Hunter Valley.

Co-trainer Peter Snowden said that the colt was a model two-year old and that he had been showing plenty of zest at home in the build up to the Darley Classic. “Capitalist was just the perfect two-year-old, blessed with a huge amount of precocity, ability and an excellent temperament,” Snowden said. “I am certain that without this injury he would have gone very close in the Darley Classic as his trackwork at Flemington was exceptional.”

Capitalist was ridden by Blake Shinn in each of his seven career starts, and the jockey said he knew he was a special colt from the moment he partnered him to win on debut in the Breeders’ Plate. “Capitalist was the best two-year-old I’ve ever ridden, in the Breeders’ Plate it was like driving a Rolls-Royce,” Shinn said. “He was breathtaking in the Magic Millions and outstanding against a top-class field in the Golden Slipper.”

Capitalist was bought at the sales and later managed by James Harron, and he said on Monday that it had been a privilege to have been involved with the record-breaking colt. “Capitalist ticked off a number of firsts, the first colt to win the Magic Millions and the Golden Slipper, and the highest-earning juvenile in history,” Harron said. “I am privileged to be associated with such a freak of a racehorse and such a wonderful group of owners. “To have a champion two-year-old who is also a ten out of ten in physical marks Capitalist is a hugely exciting stallion prospect, and a huge thanks also have to go to Team Snowden and Blake Shinn for developing Capitalist to such amazing heights."

Capitalist will join the roster at Newgate Farm for the 2017 breeding season, and the operation’s managing director Henry Field said the the colt was an exciting addition to the stallion ranks. “Australia is all about two-year-old racing, and to have a champion two-year-old standing at Newgate is what everyone strives for,” Field said. “Capitalist is the embodiment of what works in Australia - he will be heavily supported by his group of owners, who make up some of the leading breeders in Australia, to give him every chance of becoming a champion sire as well as being a champion racehorse.”

One of three named foals out of Kitalpha (Fusaichi Pegasus), herself a half-sister to the Listed winner Brayroan (Zabeel) and the stakes-placed Ekali (Torrential), Capitalist is a half-brother to one winner. His second dam is Compulsion (Danehill), the winner of the Blue Diamond Preview (Gr 3, 1000m) in 1998 and a sister to Merlene, whose two Group One victories included the 1996 Golden Slipper Stakes. Merlene is the dam of Group Two-winning filly Merlene De Lago (Encosta De Lago) and the grand dam of the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Dear Demi (Dehere), while Compulsion is also a half-sister to the dual Group One-winning Miss Moneypenny (Brocco)