A wide barrier draw not only holds no fears for Peter Snowden when it comes to two-year-old Seeiaye, but he’d much prefer it.
Normally an on-speed runner, the youngster has missed the jump a couple of times in his five-start career and with that in mind, Snowden is content with barrier eight of 12 for him in Saturday’s Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap (1200m).
“It’s better because if he blows the start drawn inside, they get across him and it’s no good,” Snowden said.
“The wider the better. If he makes a mistake, he gets a second chance.”
Having said that, Snowden is hoping Seeiaye gets the start right.
The three times he has, he’s won the Max Lees Classic (900m) at Newcastle, finished fourth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at Wyong and placed at Rosehill.
“He likes to race right on speed,” Snowden said.
“He stepped better the other day and he raced better, so it’s imperative that he begins well and puts himself there.”
While Seeiaye hasn’t won since his debut in November last year, his last-start second behind the exciting Omolong over 1100m at Rosehill had plenty of merit.
The latter is being touted as a spring carnival three-year-old next season, and Seeiaye was only beaten a half-length.
“His effort was good. He ran at a really fast pace and was up on speed doing most of the work,” Snowden said.
“The horse that won was backed for a fortune, and he did well to stick on and run as close as he did.”
Saturday’s race will be one of the final chances for the current crop of juveniles to notch a two-year-old win before they turn three on the horses’ birthday on August 1.
Seeiaye tackles the race third-up after an unplaced performance on a heavy track in the Dalrello Stakes (1100m) at Eagle Farm in May, and midfield effort behind Why So Hard at Rosehill last month before his runner-up finish to Omolong.
Whether he continues his campaign after this weekend will depend on how he acquits himself.
“We’ll see what he does on Saturday,” Snowden said.
“He’s had a trip to Brisbane and three runs now. This will be his fourth, so I’ll have a think about whether we press on any further or we pull up and get him back in the spring.”
