Snowden stars step out at trials

Some of Australia’s best horses stepped out at Rosehill on Tuesday, with Peter & Paul Snowden showing off four of their best, including seasoned sprinters Mazu and King Of Sparta and classy three-year-olds King’s Gambit and Don Corleone.

King’s Gambit and Mazu trialled together, finishing third and fourth respectively behind champion sprinter Nature Strip. Neither were asked for an effort and closed off strongly, with Tommy Berry given the green light to ride Mazu before returning from suspension.

“Tommy’s locked in for the Premiere and The Everest, just his suspension doesn’t allow him to ride in his first up run which is The Shorts, Racing NSW were very obliging to let him spin him around this morning,” Paul Snowden told SKY Racing.

Having been locked into a two-year Everest slot prior, Snowden is hoping the five-year-old can improve on his third placing in last year’s edition.

“He probably lacked that hard seasoning at that top level and that takes time… (we) always thought that last preparation was going to be the making of him and this prep will be the best one we’ve had with him,” Snowden said.

Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) placegetter King’s Gambit could be on a Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) path, with the stable keen to test the colt down the straight.

“He’s a lovely horse, there’s an option to maybe go down to Melbourne with him first up, just maybe want to tinker with the (Flemington) straight a little bit, see for later if it’s right up his alley or it’s something he has trouble with,” Snowden said.

Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) second placegetter Don Corleone led all of the way to win his trial and his nominated for Saturday’s Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) but Snowden suggested he won’t take his place.

“I doubt whether he’ll run (in the San Domineco). He can run in the Run To The Rose first up, Golden Rose second up, that’s our program,” Snowden said.

Snowden also mentioned that King Of Sparta, who finished fifth in the same trial as Mazu and King’s Gambit, could be targeted at the Group 2 Sydney Stakes (1200m) on Everest day.