Golden Slipper Stakes winner Sepoy will spearhead Peter Snowden’s most intense spring carnival assault since taking over as head trainer for Darley four seasons ago.
The powerful colt, who will be the centre of attention when he kicks off his three-year-old season in Saturday’s Listed Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield, is among the Melbourne stable’s largest ever contingent of spring contenders.
“It is our biggest ever carnival team especially down here,” Melbourne assistant trainer Paul Snowden said.
“We’re probably looking at 15 genuine carnival horses that can be very, very competitive in whatever they run in.
“A lot of those are two-year-olds (from last season) who have had limited racing but still have a lot of upside to them.
“They haven’t had the hard racing and have been looked after with the idea that they would kick on at three.”
Among them is Glissade who will resume in Saturday’s Listed Quezette Stakes (1100m).
She wasn’t mature enough for the big juvenile races last spring unlike her more celebrated stablemate Sepoy who is expected to post his sixth win in seven starts in the Vain Stakes which has Delago’s Lad, Golden Archer and Running Tall among its nominations.
Sepoy is unbeaten at Caulfield having scored easy wins in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes as well the colts and geldings divisions of the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude.
Early indications are he is back better than ever and that he can overcome the miserable fate of so many other past Slipper winners.
Snowden said there was no reason why Sepoy wouldn’t go to another level in the spring.
“Physically he’s a much more mature horse,” Snowden said.
“He has strengthened up and grown a lot more and is just a lot more laid-back in himself.
“He is still as sharp as he ever was on the track and his work this morning was super.”
Kerrin McEvoy on Tuesday gave Sepoy his most serious track gallop so far this preparation with him clocked at around 23 seconds for his last 400 metres.
It was encouraging work as Sepoy reserves his best for race day.
“What you saw on race days was always more than we see at the track,” Snowden said.
“On race day you see a different animal the last three furlongs (600m).
“Obviously he isn’t going to be at his top on Saturday but we are confident he has done plenty to be competitive.”
He said an easy win against older horses in a jumpout at Werribee two weeks ago was a clear indication that Sepoy was ready for the races.
“We used that as a good fitness guide to see where he is at and he pulled up very well,” Snowden said.
“We never want to declare anything but he is certainly going to be turned out on Saturday in great shape.”
Sepoy’s main spring goal is the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day but a clash with unbeaten champion Black Caviar along the way hasn’t been ruled out.
“We will have to wait and see,” Snowden said.
AAP TURF
