A gelding operation has worked wonders for two-year-old Enforcement who has racked up his second late-season win at Rosehill.
Enforcement is owned by a group of high profile breeders and trained by Peter and Paul Snowden with the stable noted for producing stallions.
But Enforcement’s racing manners at his first two starts made the decision to geld the well-bred colt by I am Invincible out of stakes winner Express Power an easy one in the end.
He has shown the benefit, beating older horses at Newcastle on May 28 over 900m and adding another similar front-running victory in the Australian Turf Club Handicap over 1100m on Saturday.
Sent out at $10, Enforcement held off the $1.65 favourite Rotator by 1-3/4 lengths.
“It was a pretty easy decision to make as he wasn’t putting in on race day,” Paul Snowden said.
“His trials were quite impressive but he was going to the races empty.”
“We have always liked the horse but he’s needed to fill out. He’s only got a small frame but has some strength about him.”
Snowden said Enforcement was likely to keep racing in winter with a view to the early season sprints for three-year-olds such as the San Domenico Stakes and the Rosebud.
His jockey Tommy Berry was impressed by the youngster’s improved manners.
“This is a horse that has taken a while to learn his craft,” Berry said.
“He did a lot wrong last preparation before he was gelded. Then today he was taken on early and I was worried he would get over-racing.
“But to come back underneath me and switch off then let down like he did shows he is making the necessary improvement.”
In contrast to Berry, Rotator’s jockey Jason Collett said his mount still had much to learn after her third second placing from four starts.
“The pace was steady but she still needs to improve her racing manners.,” he said.
“She over-raced and was left flat-footed when they sprinted.”
