The unbeaten Peter Snowden-trained gelding Pied A Terre will use his first clash with older horses at Moonee Valley as a springboard to major three-year-old races next year.
The son of Ad Valorem is the youngest horse in Saturday night’s Sportingbet Premium Handicap (1200m) but excites the stable as a talented miler with Guineas potential.
Melbourne foreman Paul Snowden said the quality of the horses Pied A Terre had beaten at his only two starts at Moonee Valley and Flemington had been questioned but he is in no doubt the three-year-old can win good races.
“He’s a nice horse who has really strengthened up,” Snowden said.
He said Saturday’s assignment was an unplanned test for Pied A Terre but expects him to be competitive.
“Racing against older horses isn’t ideal for him first-up but we’ve got to start him somewhere and this will kick him on to those better three-year-old races early in the new year,” he said.
The Listed Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on January 26 is among his likely targets before he steps up in distance.
Pied A Terre won his only two starts in July and at the end of last month finished off strongly when second in a barrier trial at Cranbourne.
“He’s ready to run now and I have no doubt he will be hitting the line,” Snowden said.
“If he wins that will be great but whatever he does on Saturday night he is definitely going to improve on.
“Some people may question the form behind him to this point but he is a talented horse.”
Snowden said the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 3 was an option but with his Caulfield Guineas-winning stablemate Helmet earmarked for that feature he may step back a rung.
“We will find a nice race for him but I really think he is going to need a mile (1600m). That will suit him down to the ground,” he said.
Interest in Pied A Terre has fluctuated with TAB Sportsbet with him opening favourite at $3.60 and easing to $3.70 before firming to $3.50.
Last-start Sandown winner Legion’s Belle is rated the main danger at $4.80 while last-start Flemington winner Jugahlation is in contention at $6.50 and Smokin’ Joey has firmed from $8 to $7.
AAP TURF
