In-form three-year-old Nobby Snip will attempt to emulate his grandsire Snippets in Saturday’s Group One Galaxy at Randwick.
Snippets claimed the Galaxy by 5-1/2 lengths in heavy conditions 24 years ago and Nobby Snip is on the second line of betting with TAB Sportsbet after progressing through his autumn campaign unbeaten in three starts so far.
Nobby Snip is Gai Waterhouse’s only representative in the Galaxy, a race the trainer won in 2003 with Snowland who is a full-brother to Nobby Snip’s sire Snippetson.
“You don’t need more than one (runner) because he’ll go close to winning it,” Waterhouse said.
“His grandfather won it, Snippets, and Nobby is absolutely flying.”
Nobby Snip resumed with a 6-1/2-length victory at Canterbury before going to stakes company to take out the Listed Fireball Quality (1100m) second-up on a heavy track at Rosehill.
The gelding continued his winning run when he held off stablemate Niagara in the Listed Eskimo Prince Quality (1200m) on a slow track at Randwick five weeks ago.
Waterhouse has absolutely no concerns about a wet track for Nobby Snip, who is also entered for Sunday’s Listed Gosford Guineas.
“The wetter the better. He’ll be absolutely in his element,” Waterhouse said.
Snippetson also ran in a Galaxy in 2005 but could only manage ninth as one of the favourites.
The winner of five of his seven starts with one second on debut, the only blemish on Nobby Snip’s record was a lacklustre fifth to Karuta Queen first-up in the Listed Heritage Stakes last September.
He was subsequently spelled and Waterhouse said the sprinter had exceeded expectations ever since.
“He didn’t please me at all last time in so we spelled him and he’s never looked back,” Waterhouse said.
Nobby Snip will be partnered by Tommy Berry who is yet to be beaten on the three-year-old in four outings.
Berry is chasing a first Group One win and said Nobby Snip deserved his chance in the feature sprint.
“He’s got 52 kilos on his back, I know it’s a Group One but it doesn’t look like the strongest Group One,” Berry said.
Victorian speedster Bel Sprinter is favourite for the Galaxy at $5 just ahead of Nobby Snip at $6.
Bel Sprinter will be ridden by Dwayne Dunn for the first time, with the jockey seeking a change in fortune after finishing second in four Group Ones so far this autumn carnival in Sydney.
Dunn was narrowly beaten on Said Com (Randwick Guineas), Rekindled Interest (George Ryder) and Polish Knight (Australian Derby).
All Too Hard also had to settle for second behind Pierro in the Sires’ Produce Stakes last Saturday.
Trainer Gerald Ryan has advised stewards that Hot Snitzel will be ridden quietly from his wide draw (15).
