It might not have been the Golden Slipper or Blue Diamond but Dysphonia’s win in Friday’s Scone Cup was a special moment for trainer Peter Snowden.
Darley Australia’s head trainer grew up in the area and rode in two Scone Cups and also prepared the runner-up in 1988 with his final starter before moving to Sydney to work with John Hawkes.
Dysphonia produced a powerful finish to claim the $175,000 Cup (1600m) by a half length over Willy Jimmy with Mr Unforgettable a long head away third and Snowden savoured achieving a lifelong ambition.
“That’s the one we wanted,” Snowden said.
“During the run I wasn’t happy because I thought she was too far back, but she sprinted so quickly.
“I’ve always wanted to win a Scone Cup. It’s probably only a little thing on the racing calendar in the magnitude that we race in, but for me it’s very special.”
Snowden had an autumn carnival to remember training the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper double with Sepoy.
He made it a clean sweep of the Sydney two-year-old triple crown when Helmet took out the Sires’ Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes.
Last season’s Sydney premiership winner said the Scone carnival was one he targeted and he has a great chance of more success with three runners in Saturday’s Listed Dark Jewel Classic (1400m).
Dysphonia was also almost headed that way instead of the Cup.
“I was close to running her in the Dark Jewel but the mile has always been her go,” Snowden said.
“I was mindful she was only third-up and thought it would be a strong race, but her work on Tuesday was super and I was more than confident then that I had pulled the right rein and had her in the right race.”
The race wasn’t without drama as favourite Pureness reared at the start and came out about six lengths behind the field.
Stewards determined Pureness reared as the gates opened and he was declared a starter.
The Ajax Stakes winner has been ordered back to the barrier trials and Waterhouse indicated he would now be spelled.
Reith, who bagged a treble at Canterbury last Saturday, was confident heading into the race following Dysphonia’s last start third in the Darley Crown (1300m) at Hawkesbury.
“I thought we’d just need luck from the barrier and we had a good run,” he said.
“Coming to the 300 metre mark I knew she was going to let down strongly which is what she did.”
AAP TURF
