Paul Snowden has warned not to underestimate Yulalona in a competitive $150,000 Winter Championship Final at Flemington on Saturday.
Snowden, who is the stable foreman in Melbourne for his father Peter, expects the four-year-old to improve off his first-up fifth at Flemington two weeks ago and says he wouldn’t be surprised to see Yulalona run a bold race in the 1600m Listed feature.
Yulalona, winner of the Group Three Summer Cup (2400m) and Listed Dulcify Quality (1800m) in Sydney, has been unwanted in early betting at $41.
“I think he ran very well first-up when he was underdone and he’s going to improve off it on Saturday,” Snowden said.
There’s Only One defeated Yulalona by more than six lengths last start when winning a Winter Championship heat over 1420m and the Peter Moody-trained mare held favouritism on Friday at $3.80.
Lightly-raced Menados, trained by Nigel Blackiston, has firmed from $5 to $4 and Snowden believes the four-year-old is the horse to beat.
“I’m very happy with Yulalona and the step up to the mile is going to suit him better,” Snowden said.
“There’s some form horses in the race though. Nigel’s horse (Menados) is the one to beat but Yulalona deserves a crack at this type of race.”
Yulalona started off his racing career in Victoria and after campaigning in Sydney for the past year, Peter Snowden decided to send him back to Melbourne for the winter.
“His whole preparation this time is going to be down here,” Paul Snowden said.
“In his last couple of preparations he’s still been a bit immature in himself. He was always going to mature with age and I’d imagine this time and then next time you are going to see the best of him.
“Maybe next year he might be a nice country cups type horse down here.”
Snowden was also pleased with the two-year-old Persecution’s last start second to Isabella Snowflake at Flemington.
He’ll contest Saturday’s Victorian Carbine Club Plate (1000m) and Snowden said the scratching of Isabella Snowflake had opened the race up a bit more.
