Peter Snowden has racked up many firsts since signing on as Sheikh Mohammed’s head trainer in Australia but few have given him as much satisfaction at Adroitly’s Stayers’ Cup win at Rosehill.
While the Listed race could not compare with feats such as claiming all five Group One juvenile races last season, Saturday’s feature was the first time Snowden had saddled up a runner for a 3200m race.
The effort was worth it when Adroitly came at the gallant race leader Roi D'Jeu in the final 200 metres - Photo by Steve Hart
He admitted it had been a challenge and he had had to train Adroitly differently from all the other horses at Darley’s Crown Lodge.
The effort was worth it when Adroitly came at the gallant race leader Roi D’Jeu in the final 200 metres and gradually overhauled him to win by a half length in soggy conditions.
“We are a stable that turns over two and three-year-olds and don’t get many opportunities with stayers,” Snowden said.
“I’ve really enjoyed training him and doing different things with him.
“I have watched Guy Walter and Paul Cave and have seen what they do with their stayers.
“Adroitly is a lovely horse. He is a great worker and will go two miles (3200m) around the river at Warwick Farm then he has a swim.
“He’s no world beater. He’s an average horse but he can stay and he’s done a great job to win two feature races this campaign.
“Maybe in the autumn we will look at the Chairman’s and even possibly the Sydney Cup.
“But in the immediate future I will take him home and he will have a good sleep.”
“I’ve got a hundred per cent strike rate over the distance now.”
Adroitly won the Listed McKell Cup (2400m) last month and ran fourth in a close finish to the Winter Cup last time out.
Sent out the $2.15 favourite and carrying top weight of 58kg with Kerrin McEvoy aboard, Adroitly settled midfield and began his attack in the straight.
“I was a little concerned because I thought Kerrin would be a bit closer but he knew what he was doing,” Snowden said.
McEvoy came to national attention in the greatest 3200m race of all when he won the 2000 Melbourne Cup on Brew.
“I really enjoy staying races,” McEvoy said.
“He is a nice horse to be around.
“He is a handy stayer and will be competitive in the second tier races.”
McEvoy disregarded the numbered track rating system which had the track at the maximum 10, saying the conditions were “bloody heavy”.
Fellow jockey Corey Brown said it was one of the heaviest he had ridden on while Josh Parr went a step further to saying it was definitely the heaviest he had experienced.
The wet conditions were reflected in the time for the race of 3min40.92sec.
