Leading Sydney trainer Peter Snowden is excited to discover what the spring has in store.
Snowden, who trains for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Darley outfit, has six or seven horses that he believes can measure up in the spring.
Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas spoke to Snowden about his spring team.
Group 1 South Australian Derby winner Kidnapped is head of the team, with the Melbourne Cup a logical target.
“He is a far better horse the Melbourne way, he gets all tangled up in his action going the Sydney direction,” Snowden said.
“He’s gone straight to our Melbourne stables and he will be aimed at the Cups.”
Dual Group 1 winner Purple has enjoyed a good spell.
“She will bounce back in the spring.”
“I don’t know about a Cups campaign but we will just see how she is going and find the right races for her.”
Lightly raced colt Demerit is heading the right way after a decent spell.
He has had only six starts, with a win in last year’s Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) and a third in the weight for age Canterbury Stakes (1300m) his most notable results.
Classy mare Beaded had a Queensland winter campaign, and will only have a light spring preparation.
“She warms the heart because she tries so hard and I would love to see her win a good race,” Snowden said.
Snowden believes the enigmatic Drumbeats is set to reach his full potential this campaign.
“We have always held a good opinion of him.”
“The Epsom looks right up his alley, and then maybe Melbourne again.”
Rounding out Snowden’s main hopes is juvenile Skilled, who demonstrated he was one of the top two year olds of the 2009-10 season with a very close second in the Group 1 AJC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) before a dominant victory in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m).
“He has gone within an inch of being champion two year old.”
“We are aiming him at the Caulfield Guineas.”
Of course, Snowden hopes that one of his many horses may emerge as a spring carnival contender in the next few weeks.
Written by Andrew Hawkins
