The decision to send Alpha One to Melbourne by trainers Peter and Paul Snowden has paid an immediate dividend with the two-year-old scoring at The Valley.
After victories on the provincialĀ circuitĀ in NSW at Newcastle and Hawkesbury, Alpha One came to Melbourne on Saturday toĀ outspeedĀ his rivals in the Luna Hand Care Handicap (955m) on Saturday.
The Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 13 is the next likely stop for Alpha One.
TheĀ SnowdensĀ made the decision to add a bubble cheeker on the colt’s right-hand side in a bid to make Alpha One race truly on Saturday.
Alpha One was on his best behaviour on Saturday, jumping straight to lead and giving his opposition no chance of running him down.
Ridden by Damian Lane, Alpha One was sent out the $2.60 favourite before scoring a 3-Ā¾ length win fromĀ ShalamanĀ ($4) with The Guava ($19) a length away third.
“He’s been really good lately,” Peter Snowden said.
“His last two wins have beenĀ really solid, to the point, being a colt, we just needed something different with a change of direction and the bubble cheekers.
“He’s a bit of a galloper, a lovely type, and he’s blessed with good natural pace, so to come here, to Moonee Valley today, and win like that, it suggests there is more to come.
“He can stay down here and go to theĀ VainĀ Stakes in a couple of weeks.”
Owned in Hong Kong, Snowden said if Alpha One was to be successful in theĀ VainĀ StakesĀ then his future may be in Asia.
Lane said Alpha One had enjoyed the switch to Victoria and had raced truly in his first Melbourne start.
“He leapt really quickly, which has been a good attribute of his, but he’s improving all the time, even in that part of his work,” Lane said.
“He got a bit wayward at his last couple of starts, but he really enjoyed racing left-handed today.”
