Peter Snowden’s two runners in the Hawkesbury Crown have had mixed fortunes at the barrier draw, although the rain-affected track could dictate which one luck has favoured.
Reigning titleholder Coco Jamboo came up with gate 17 but will jump from 13 if the remaining emergencies don’t gain a start, while barn mate Tashi has barrier two.
Whether a low draw is a boon or a burden on the expected heavy conditions will be borne out on race day but alleys aside, Snowden is happy with both mares heading into Saturday’s 1300m feature.
“They will both be good hopes and they’re both good wet trackers,” Snowden said.
“There’s not much between them. You would probably lean very slightly towards Coco Jamboo because she won this race last year and both her runs have been excellent this time in.
“She is pretty well off under the set weights conditions being a Group Three winner and getting just above the minimum.”
Coco Jamboo hasn’t tasted success since taking out the corresponding race 12 months ago but has returned with a brace of competitive performances this preparation, placing in the Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) first-up and finishing fifth and just over a length from winner Infancy in the Sapphire Stakes (1200m).
Tashi was a gallant fourth in the latter and with a quartet of black-type placings on her CV, Snowden said it would give him great satisfaction if she could finally land one.
“She has run so many placings in Group races and just through bad luck or a bad draw hasn’t won one,” he said.
“But she tries ever so hard, even when she ran third the other day (in the Guy Walter Stakes) she tried her heart out. I’d give anything to see her win it.”
Both Snowden-trained mares are in the market, Tashi an $8 chance and Coco Jamboo at $9.50 with the Bjorn Baker-trained Belclare a clear-cut $3.60 favourite.
Snowden has a terrific record in the race, winning four of the 14 renewals with Kanzan (2011), Aerobatics (2013-14) and Coco Jamboo last year.
