Jockeys could be the difference between winning and losing the Randwick Guineas, according to the co-trainer of one of the favourites for the Group One race.
Paul Snowden, who saddles up Shooting To Win with his father Peter, insists the leading chances are so evenly matched that the onus will be on their riders to get their tactics right.
“I dare say the best ride will probably win the race,” Snowden said.
“It’s one of those races where your rider has got to know your horse and you can’t tell them what to do.
“They’ve got to ride the race to how it plays out in front of their eyes because there’s too much that can change.”
The top three Guineas chances with bookmakers will be ridden by the trio of jockeys fighting out this season’s Sydney premiership, adding another angle to a race tipped to provide an autumn carnival highlight on Saturday.
Blake Shinn will ride Shooting To Win, Hugh Bowman is on first-up Hobartville Stakes winner Hallowed Crown and James McDonald will partner third favourite Sweynesse.
They are separated by 4-1/2 wins on the premiership and Snowden says it is a credit to Shinn’s work ethic that he is now entrenched as one of the best riders in Sydney.
“You can’t fault his dedication and the hard work he does off the track,” Snowden said.
“He’s a very intense form student and I dare say every time he comes out (of the jockeys’ room) you let him tell the story and, nine times out of ten, it’s just how you want your horse ridden.”
Having his first run since winning the Caulfield Guineas, Shooting To Win was beaten less than a half length into fourth behind Hallowed Crown in the Hobartville but Snowden said it was significant the colt did a lot more work than the placegetters.
“I thought he was outstanding,” Snowden said. “The barrier just beat us because he used him to get across and it took him a couple of furlongs to relax.”
Shooting To Win has drawn alongside Hallowed Crown on Saturday and it’s just as difficult to separate them in betting with most bookmakers marking them equal picks at $3 to add to their Group One collection.
