Content that his decision to bypass The Gong with Xidaki has been a blessing, Peter Snowden is quietly confident the gelding is poised to make his presence felt in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill.
Last weekend’s The Gong (1600m) was firmly on Snowden’s radar but after Xidaki took time to recover from a tough run when unplaced in the Golden Eagle (1500m), he decided to change tack and give the horse an extra week.
With backmarkers struggling to come into play at Kembla Grange due to the firm track, Snowden was happy it was the right call.
“I’m glad I didn’t run him last week. I had all intention of running him in The Gong and they broke a track record and went at a crazy speed,” Snowden said.
“It would have been a gut-buster for him like the start before in the Golden Eagle.
“He needed an extra week, which is the reason I didn’t run him, and he is going to get a better track to suit him on Saturday, you’d think.”
Xidaki has had seven starts on wet ground for two wins and four placings and with rain predicted in Sydney on Friday and Saturday, Rosehill is expected to be affected to some degree.
Prior to the four-year-old’s Golden Eagle performance, he had finished a strong second in the Silver Eagle (1300m), beating home subsequent Group 1 Railway Stakes winner Port Lockroy.
Snowden felt he sat too close to a solid tempo in the Golden Eagle and didn’t finish off, confirming he will be handled more conservatively in the Festival Stakes (1500m).
“Midfield, that’s where he races best,” he said.
“He was just too far forward on a hot pace in the Golden Eagle. Those class horses just swamped him late.
“It was disappointing where he finished because he is better than that. In hindsight, we should have ridden him a bit quieter rather than think he could win the race from the front.”
In-form sprinter Fire Star represents the stable in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) where he will be shooting for his fourth win in succession.
Snowden has always had a healthy opinion of the son of Deep Field, but it has taken until this preparation for the horse to really hit his straps.
While Saturday’s race will be the eighth of his campaign, Fire Star is showing no signs of training off.
“I’ve been very mindful of that, and I have been looking for an excuse to tip him out, but so far we can’t find one,” Snowden said.
“Winning form is good form, and it’s a good time of year to be involved in these races. While ever he is going well, we will keep him going.”
