Helmet’s first-up defeat has not dented trainer Peter Snowden’s belief in the outstanding colt ahead of his Australian swansong on Saturday.
Helmet sat in behind the speed and finished fifth as the short-priced favourite in the CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) two weeks ago but Snowden is looking for him to bounce back in a big way in Saturday’s Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
It will be his final run before he heads overseas for the UAE Derby in Dubai on March 31.
The Caulfield Guineas winner came up with barrier five in a full field of 16 plus four emergencies and is the $3 favourite with TAB Sportsbet, ahead of VRC Oaks winner Mosheen ($7) who has to contend with the outside gate.
“It would be great (to win on Saturday). He’s already done a good job but I firmly believe there is more to come from the horse,” Snowden said.
“I don’t think he’s a spent force at all.
“There’s some good races still left in him for sure.”
Snowden said the first-up assignment had brought the three-time Group One winner on ahead of the Guineas, in which Helmet will be aiming to join Mahogany as a dual winner of both the Caulfield and Australian Guineas.
“The race didn’t pan out how we would have liked first-up but hopefully we can make amends on Saturday,” Snowden said.
“The run has brought him on and his work was great yesterday morning so I’m really happy with the horse.”
Helmet’s three Group One successes in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Champagne Stakes (1600m) and Caulfield Guineas (1600m) have come when the colt has dictated terms in front, including an epic battle with Manawanui in last year’s Caulfield Guineas.
Helmet, along with star stablemate Sepoy will leave Australia on March 9 ahead of the Dubai World Cup night where Sepoy will line up in the Golden Shaheen (1200m) and Helmet in the UAE Derby (1900m).
Snowden will prepare the two colts for their Dubai assignments where they’ll race in the royal blue colours of Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation.
The trainer said it would be great for Helmet to leave Australia on a high note.
“It would also be good for me if he happens to run well on Saturday going over to where he’s got to go and facing the task he’s facing,” Snowden said.
“It gives you good confidence to know your horse is going well.
“It’s like Sepoy. He got beaten the other day but for me it was a fantastic run.
“He ran brilliant time and when you’re going to take on the best sprinters in the world, for me that’s the run that says he’s going to be right up there with them.
“It’s the same with Helmet. I want to see him be very competitive on Saturday, that way I know I’m going to be taking over a horse that’s going to be competitive on the world stage in a few weeks time.”
AAP TURF
