Snowden tips Tuileries to overcome missed run in hunt for twin Tiaras
Craig Kerry
Randwick trainer Peter Snowden is not too worried about Tuileries missing out on the run as he chases back-to-back wins in the Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) race, the final group 1 race of the season, at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Last year Snowden was relieved when five-year-old Tashi broke her stakes racing duck with a career-limiting win in fillies and mares racing after seven placings in black type events, including three second places to Tiara.
One of those was in the traditional leading bracket 2 Dane Ripper Stakes two weeks ago. Two-time group 3 winner Tuileries missed out on the Dane Ripper, meaning he has not raced since winning the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone on May 16.
Despite the gap between runs, Snowden believed the Tuileries were poised to make the most of a one-third draw. Chad Schofield rides the favoritism-fighting mare So You Think at $6.50 (TAB).
“If you look at his form, he responds well to taking breaks from his runs,” Snowden said.
“He was going to run at Dane Ripper but when it was raining a lot and he had a very wide gate I didn’t want him to have a discouraging incident.
“But the horse didn’t miss a beat. He had a trial at Rosehill the week before that, it was a solid trial and he did well, so the gap between runs, I’m not too worried about that.
“I went up and saw his work on Tuesday and it looks great. He worked very strong, so he’s in the right spot, he’s got a good gate, so we’re hopeful.”
Snowden also has Fire Star ($7.50) among the favorites in the 3rd WJ Healy Stakes (1200m). In the Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m) he was just shy of a furlong off the fourth final start.
“He’s doing well and his third-place form is also good,” he said.
“A good gate will give him a chance to accelerate where he wants. He didn’t have a lot of space last start, so I thought his run was pretty good.”
Despite a wide draw, King Of Sparta ($31) will run at Healy, he said.
“It needs to keep functioning, then we’ll freshen it up a bit and bring it back for spring,” he said.
He also had two hopes in the listed 2YO Tattersall’s Stakes. Pearl Of Dubai ($13) has made four appearances in his six winless starts, while Colt The Machine Gun ($10) won on his Canterbury debut. While Snowden believed Pearl Of Dubai could have fought better on firmer ground, Machine Gun was underrated.
“He’s a very relaxed horse so it’s hard to get a good read on him, but I liked him at Canterbury… and he’s got some form there,” he said.
“Second or third favorite [Klocke]He beat him comfortably and was shorter on the market, so I’m not sure why. “He’s got a bit of an odd drawing, but he’s got gate speed, so he’ll probably be in the top half dozen.”
Touristic ($23) will make his third attempt in the listed WJ McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill. The seven-year-old, who had finished second and then fourth in the last two years, dropped to 10th in his last start in the Lord Mayor’s Cup.
“He got a little too close and that robbed him of the finish,” Snowden said.
“But he’s freshened up, it’s been four weeks between runs and his training has been good. It’s probably going to be a soft track again on Saturday, so he’s not out of luck.”
