Two-year-old colt Mediterranean has sailed to a maiden victory to give the Snowden-training partnership another spring carnival contender.
Mediterranean cruised past the field as they rounded the turn before being eased down to win the 1200m Tab.Com.Au Handicap at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Godolphin horses Saxaphone ($4.60) and Malaise ($21) filled the placings but were no match for the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained $1.65-favourite.
“It might have been a midweek but the way he won tells you there’s something there,” Peter Snowden said.
Mediterranean’s dam Ekali is a half-sister to Golden Slipper winner Capitalist’s dam Kitalpha.
“It’s a good family getting better, isn’t it?” Snowden said.
Both colts race in James Harron Bloodstock’s green and gold colours, with the owner-trainer partnership adding another weapon to their spring carnival arsenal in Mediterranean.
Initially, Snowden rated Mediterranean as good as Capitalist, but his only two starts during his first campaign were two unplaced efforts in Group Two races.
“Mentally, he wasn’t ready for it all,” Snowden said.
“Even though his work was strong at home, there’s a few little things we found with the breed that they’re probably better off with that little bit more time.”
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy said Mediterranean had toyed with his rivals and could now progress to a better race.
“He’s gone away easily there,” McEvoy said.
In the fillies division of the two-year-old races at Canterbury, the Chris Waller-trained Seventh Chic gave her sire Seventh Reason his first winner.
Seventh Reason was a $2 million yearling but never lived up to his blue blood breeding page at the races or at stud where he was found to be sub-fertile after producing 14 foals.
Waller said he wanted to see Seventh Chic step up to Saturday grade before targeting richer races.
“It’s like stepping from the under-21s to seniors,” Waller said.
“If they tick that box you can look further afield.”
Seventh Chic is raced by Michael and Helen Keegan, who were part-owners of Seventh Reason.
