The Darley team wasn’t able to win the race it sponsors on Saturday but made up for it as Free Wheeling led in a stable quinella in the feature Hawkesbury Guineas.
Promising three-year-old Mental then capped a good day for the Peter Snowden stable with an impressive return in the final race to book a trip to Brisbane with Free Wheeling for the Queensland Guineas.
Sheikh Mohammed’s head trainer in Australia, Snowden has prepared the winner of the Listed Darley Crown at Hawkesbury in three of the previous four years but his two runners disappointed on Saturday finishing out of the placings.
Two races later it was Free Wheeling ($26) who raced away with the $150,000 Listed Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m), coming in four lengths ahead of stablemate Pied A Terre ($17) with Bound To Blush ($6.50) a neck away third.
The heavily-backed favourite Landing ($1.45) was out to give trainer Gai Waterhouse her fourth winner on the program but raced like a tired horse according to jockey Nash Rawiller and will now be spelled after finishing eighth.
Snowden’s team had a lean autumn carnival with Celts his last Saturday winner in Sydney on March 31.
Saturday’s Hawkesbury double was complemented by a double at Flemington as well as Mascareri’s Silk Stocking Stakes win at the Gold Coast.
“It’s been a good day and it’s good to get him over the line,” Snowden said of Free Wheeling.
“We just needed to get one here today and this was a great one to get.
“He was given a great ride. Hughie (Bowman) put him in the race early and willed him to win really.”
Famous Seamus set up a solid tempo in front after Robyn Freeman-Key’s saddle shifted and Bowman had Free Wheeling close enough to make his move at the top of the straight before racing away.
“I’ll probably take him up to run in the Queensland Guineas. He campaigned well there last year so I’ll look to take him back up there again,” Snowden said.
Rawiller said Landing was under pressure a long way from home and the previously unbeaten three-year-old came in 11 lengths behind the winner.
“He showed all the signs that he’s had enough,” Rawiller said.
Mental ($2.15 fav) settled midfield before storming down the outside to win the Group GSA Handicap (1200m) by 2-3/4-lengths.
“He looked a good thing on paper and won accordingly,” Snowden said.
“I think the Queensland Guineas is the right race for him.”
