Ajani wins Australia's richest Maiden with $250,000 in prize money
The decision to geld Ajani has helped the Sydney training partnership of Peter and Paul Snowden continue its Magic Millions day strike-rate.
Ajani ($15 to $9) came from barrier 15 to beat Dortmund ($4) by three-quarters of a length in Saturday’s $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
Peter Snowden said it had not been a tough decision to geld Ajani who is by Choisir.
“I suppose everyone likes to dream when horses are two-year-olds that you might get one that will make a sire. So you leave him a colt,” Snowden said.
“But he kept running minor placings. His ears were going back and forward in the straight. He had his mind on other things.”
“I think gelding him will be the making of Ajani. He might go on to win a better race.”
Ajani cost $130,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions Yearling Sales and lifted his prize money to $169,500 with the win.
The Snowdens have a tremendous record in Queensland and at the Magic Millions carnival including last year’s Two-Year-Old Classic with Capitalist.
Winning jockey Blake Shinn paid tribute to their ability to set horses for the right races.
“From the awkward draw he got in reasonably well and presented at the right time in the straight,” Shinn said.
“The Snowdens have the ability to set horses for races they can win.:”
Hugh Bowman, who rode Dortmund, said his mount had not been helped by being trapped wide early.
