Strazzieri laying foundations for capital success

By Jordan Gerrans

Popular Deagon trainer Sam Strazzieri looks to have found another quality galloper after a smart first-up win of recent stable acquisition Capital Asset at Caloundra on Sunday afternoon. 

The 80-year-old is well-known in the northern area of Brisbane for his long-time involvement in the carpet industry while also poking along with a small team of horses. 

The veteran conditioner paid around $20,000 for former Ciaron Maher galloper Capital Asset and the gelding went a long way to paying back his connections with a tough win in Class 4 Handicap grade over 1400 metres.

Capital Asset had prevailed in four races from 30 attempts before lobbing in the Sunshine State and quickly added to that tally following a smart ride from hoop Dale Smith.

Smith – who rode him in a trial at Deagon last month – put Capital Asset up on the speed after starting from the widest barrier and the bay gelding toughed it out to the line. 

“He trialed very well, it was a good time in the small field,” Strazzieri said.

“He was a bit big in his trial and in my eyes since the trial, he has improved about six lengths within himself.

“He will get a mile this horse if he stays happy. If he trains on, which I am sure he will, he will get a mile and be handy, he likes to roll a bit.

“He had form in Melbourne on the outside tracks. He is a good type and is a big horse. He gets excited in himself.

“We have worked hard on him and we leave him alone now to keep him a bit happy.”

Smith described the performance as a ‘good, tough win.”

Broadcaster Jarrod Wessel was full of praise for the effort of Capital Asset in his first look at racing under Queensland conditions. 

“He looked to be under full pressure a furlong from home, but he dug deep to win narrowly,” Wessel said.

After recently turning 80 years of age and retiring from the work force in recent times, Strazzieri is enjoying his time preparing one galloper at the northern Brisbane track.

The well-liked trainer worked in floor covering since he was a teenager and in more recent years ran his own carpet business selling carpet and vinyl at Clontarf. 

He is racing Capital Asset alongside a glut of his family, including Jason, Anthony, Dylan and Nicolas Strazzieri who all share in the ownership group and found the galloper online for sale. 

Strazzieri says Capital Asset will have an easy week at Deagon before the stable finds another suitable race at Caloundra or a midweek city event in about a fortnight’s time. 

The team are likely to stick with top hoop Smith. 

“He can ride, he has plenty of experience,” Strazzieri said of Smith. 

“He gets on well with this horse as he is a horseman.

“That was a hard run on Sunday and he has put in.

“There was eight runners, he drew the outside and he needed to do a bit of work early on.”