Assistant trainer Paul Snowden was happy to be proven wrong when Euryale took out the Listed Gibson Carmichael Stakes at Flemington.
The two-year-old Lonhro filly, one of the three Peter Snowden runners in the 1600m feature, opened at $3.20 but drifted to start at $3.80 as the support came for stablemate Haut Normandie who was backed from $4 to $3.20 favourite.
But Euryale, ridden by Craig Newitt, who enjoyed the run of the race fourth on the fence, prevailing by three-quarters of a length from another filly Torah ($13) with Isopach ($14) 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Snowden admitted that he had had concerns about Euryale running out the distance at her first attempt at 1600 metres.
“The other two (seventh-placed Haut Normandie and fifth-placed Burnout) are a little bit more advanced in their physiques, whereas and she’s pretty much a little, slight sort of filly,” Snowden said.
“It’s always good to be wrong and still win the race anyway.
“She drew one and he (Newitt) was positive early and she was a tragedy beaten here last start when she had to be dragged too far back.
“She’s produced probably her best performance this preparation.
“She was professional and it pretty much opens doors for her next time in,” Snowden said.
“Win, lose or draw she was going to the paddock and she’s going to come back a really nice filly.”
Snowden said a race such as the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in October would definitely come under consideration.
Euryale has won two of her three starts, scoring over 1200 metres mid-week at Sandown in April.
She was then beaten a short-head by The New Boy over 1400 metres at Flemington on May 7.
Snowden still has a good opinion of Haut Normandie.
“He did a lot wrong. He over raced quite badly, he’s still learning at the caper,” he said.
AAP TURF
