Sheikh Mohammed’s maroon and white colours have dominated two-year-old racing this season and the momentum is set to continue at Randwick on Saturday.
But this time trainer Guy Walter is looking to replace Peter Snowden’s name alongside that of the winner of the Centennial Park Handicap (1200m).
Walter has two runners for Darley, Appearance and Matignon, while the Snowden stable has Pillory engaged.
The Darley team won all five Group One juvenile events in 2011 with Kerrin McEvoy the winning jockey on each occasion.
The team’s number one rider has chosen to ride Matignon who he partnered to her winning debut over 1000 metres on the Kensington track last month.
“I had the choice and I picked her,” McEvoy said.
“I’ve won on her and she did a good job last time so hopefully she can do it again.”
Walter is cautious about Matignon’s chances and is also looking forward to Appearance stepping out after her debut win on June 15 at Canterbury.
“It’s unfortunate they have to clash but there aren’t any other races for them,” he said.
“Appearance might need further. Matignon shows promise but it was only a midweek that she won and she is stepping up into what looks like a pretty good race.”
Appearance will be ridden by Rod Quinn while Josh Parr takes the ride on Pillory.
The field of 11 includes Ingham Magic from the Chris Waller stable who comes into the race off a second placing at Canterbury on June 29.
Raced by the Ingham family, the filly ran second on debut at the Gold Coast on New Year’s Day but that wasn’t enough to get her into the field for the Magic Millions at the same track two weeks later.
Her autumn campaign was halted when she hurt herself when fourth in the Widden Stakes in February and she was given a few months off.
She made an encouraging return at Canterbury and Waller said he had been pleased with her since.
“She will take a lot of benefit from her first-up run,” he said.
“She has been unlucky, she missed a start in the Magic Millions then hurt herself in the Widden but she’s coming along well now.”
AAP TURF
