Wait over for Snowden as Lunaite makes country championships bid
When Paul Snowden was setting up his stable in Port Macquarie, the first horse he was offered was Lunaite. It was also her first runner and winner, so it’s only fitting that it will be her first foray into the Evergreen Turf Country Championships.
However, it has been quite a long wait for Snowden, who has prepared 20 Group 1 and two TAB Everest winners in partnership with his father Peter, to qualify for the series by deciding to make the move in late 2024.
Coach Paul Snowden.Credit: Getty Images
Lunaite has won three races for Snowden, including the TAB Speedway, and says he is well placed for Sunday’s $150,000 Evergreen Turf Mid North Coast Country Championships (1200m).
“We had to sit out last year because we didn’t get enough punishment. It was like a prison sentence, so it took a long time to come,” Snowden said.
“She’s a well above average filly, so this is a good race for her.
“We were always going to do two runs and then a refresher. He has the remaining fitness and the ability to spend a few weeks in the paddock before we put him back under saddle.”
“It was a refresher for him, he didn’t really need it and he’s doing pretty well.”
The four-year-old made a run at the end of November with a fourth place finish just behind Hyperbolik in the 1400m Benchmark 78 following his Speedway win and showed he is ready with a Taree trial win last week.
Snowden says being able to start Lunaite’s National Championships at 1200 meters on home soil is a plus.
