The Peter and Paul Snowden partnership can put the icing on a million dollar winter with Acatour at the Sunshine Coast.
Acatour will be having the second run of a short Queensland campaign in Saturday’s Group Three Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m).
The Snowdens have already won $1,066,000 prize money since the winter carnival started with the Hollindale Stakes meeting on May 6 at the Gold Coast.
It has capped a great year for the father and son partnership in only its third full season with more than 130 winners putting them firmly in the top group of Australian trainers.
The majority of their winter carnival prize money has come from feature race wins by Redzel (Doomben 10,000), Tycoon Tara (Tatt’s Tiara), and Taking Aim (Ken Russell Classic).
Their horses have picked up minor prize money a further 12 times.
Acatour can add a further $80,000 to the pot if he wins the Sunshine Coast Guineas which is famous as the race which launched Winx on her 17-straight winning streak two years ago.
The colt won the Carbine Club Stakes over 1600m in the Sydney autumn before failing at 2000m in the Packer Pate.
At his first run back from a let-up he was an unlucky fifth in the Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich last Saturday week jockey Jeff Lloyd was a victim of circumstances.
“I couldn’t get a clear run in the final 100 metres when the winner (Monsieur Gustave) cut me off. He should have finished closer,” Lloyd said.
Senior partner Peter Snowden said he had lowered his sights with Acatour who he had thought might make a Group One horse.
“He has ability but can be up and down. The Guineas is a nice race for him,” he said.
“We took a big team up for the winter carnival and it is nice to get some results.”
The Snowdens will have Snippets Land in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) and he also had no luck in the Eye Liner after coming from the outside barrier.
Lloyd will ride both Acatour and Snippet’s Land on Saturday.
