Peter Snowden capped a successful Scone carnival when Lonhro’s sister Shannara claimed a breakthrough stakes victory in the Listed Dark Jewel Classic on Saturday.
Snowden, who grew up in Scone before moving to Sydney in the late 1980s to take up a position at Crown Lodge, had already trained the winner of the $175,000 Scone Cup (1600m) with Dysphonia 24 hours earlier.
Jerezana made it a treble of wins for the Darley stable in the final race of the two-day carnival.
Shannara, a full-sister to 11-time Group One winner Lonhro and triple Group One winner Niello, unleashed a blistering turn of foot down the outside in the fillies and mares 1400m feature.
She had three-quarters of a length to spare over Dane Julia with Pontiana a short half-head away third.
It was the third time in four years Snowden has prepared the winner of the Dark Jewel while Shannara’s victory also brought up a feature race double at the carnival for in-form jockey Christian Reith.
“I’ll have to bring my pyjamas next time and stay a bit longer because it’s been great to catch up with everyone and to get a feature double has been a bonus,” Snowden said.
“This mare is from a fantastic family. A couple of the fillies haven’t measured up on the track but she has always shown ability and it’s great to see her get that black-type win today.
“She’s a full-sister to Lonhro and Niello and her residual value has just tripled.”
Stablemate Screen started favourite in the Dark Jewel and Snowden didn’t think there was much between the pair but was concerned about Shannara’s awkward draw.
Mascareri hit the front at the top of the straight and Screen was in the firing line for a long way but Reith let Shannara rip from back and she attacked the line to get the result.
“I was a little concerned that she was going to need luck after drawing barrier 12 but she made her own luck,” Snowden said of the winner.
“She just went back and then swamped them.”
The trainer also made special mention of Reith who was in the saddle for Dysphonia and Shannara’s victories.
“He’s a good lad, he’s worked really hard and hard work makes good luck,” the trainer said.
“He’s reaping the rewards now.”
Reith has been riding the crest of a wave with a treble at Canterbury last weekend followed by a stakes double at Scone.
“It’s overwhelming,” Reith said.
“I’ve only been back riding in Sydney a bit over 12 months and getting results and opportunities like this is a big thrill. Things a rolling along really well for me at the moment.”
AAP TURF
