Golden Slipper prospect McLaren has handled his debut well to live up to his three barrier trial wins with victory in the Canonbury Stakes.
Punters stuck with the colt who started the $1.55 favourite in Saturday’s six-horse field and surged to the line three-quarters of a length in front of Spring Loaded ($9.50) covering the 1100m in 1:05.98 on the soft track.
“It is good to get that done but there is a lot of room for improvement,” Peter Snowden said.
”He did just did a few things that you don’t want to see them do but he’s got talent. I am being very picky but you’ve got to be at this level and hopefully there are a few things we can improve.
“He is only a young horse and it’s only his first start and you can’t do anymore than win and he’s done that.”
He was ridden by James McDonald who rode ruling 2019 Golden Slipper favourite Tassort to his 5-1/4 length winning debut in November.
McDonald still had only good things to say about McLaren.
”He is a little racehorse who does everything good out there,” he said.
“The pace was solid for him and he was able to get into rhythm and finish off.
“He has always been a bit of a hyperactive little horse but the best thing about him is when you put him out on the track, he knows what he is there for. He has been very well educated.
”He’s got that much speed, he doesn’t know how to harness it yet.”
The last horse to complete the Canonbury/Golden Slipper double was the Gai Waterhouse-trained Vancouver in 2015.
McLaren is among entries for the Blue Diamond Stakes on February 23 with the Snowden Racing-trained Catch Me the $4 favourite.
