Exciting times are ahead for promising filly Shelters who resumes after a short break at Sandown.
Trained by Peter Snowden, the rising four-year-old has raced three times and is coming off an unbeaten two-run campaign in Wednesday’s The Cove Hotel Hcp (1200m).
Shelters was third on debut at Kyneton in November but in the autumn underlined her class with an easy win at Cranbourne and a narrow Sandown victory over Volando who has since won at Caulfield and Moonee Valley.
Paul Snowden said the form line was encouraging and that Shelters was always considered above average.
“She is definitely stakes grade, and maybe even a little bit better,” Snowden said.
He said Shelters could have run at Caulfield last Saturday but the decision was made to seek an easier option in midweek class while she is below her best.
“She’s still a bit soft and that’s why we chose not to run her on Saturday,” Snowden said.
“It is a good race again at Sandown but she has drawn well in barrier four and (apprentice) Ashley Thompson takes a bit of lead off her back with his (3kg) claim.”
“Hopefully it will be enough to get a result.”
Shelters is well bred being by Lonhro from Hut who was Group Two-placed three times.
Hardest for Shelters to beat look to be the Mick Price-trained Lone Star, who is unbeaten in two provincial runs, consistent city performer Set And Forget, impressive Sale debut winner Sam Le Champ from the Ellerton and Zahra yard and Glamour Rock, trained by Peter Moody who is closing in on 100 city winners for the season.
Last start Glamour Rock was second to Biancon Rose who last Saturday franked the form by winning at Caulfield.
Moody’s other Sandown runners are Lady Of The Lamp in the Ahern’s at Highways After The Last Handicap (1300m) and Deliver The Dream in the Le Pine Funerals Handicap (1600m).
Moody has trained 97.5 winners this season but is unconcerned about the possibility of reaching the milestone.
“We’re not worried about it one iota,” Moody said. “If it happens it happens.”
“We’re certainly not running horses for the sake of running them (in order) to try and break the 100 barrier.
“It’d be nice to get there, but we can’t eat it when we get hungry and I don’t want people thinking that we’re running horses just to try and get the 100. We’re running horses because they’re running in the races that we think they’re best suited.”
Wednesday’s Sandown meeting is the fourth-last city program before the July 31 close to the season.
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