Pariah is ready to continue Team Snowdens Blue Diamond Stakes domination
After a lead-up run his trainer rates up with those of his three Blue Diamond winners, two-year-old colt Pariah is ready to follow in their footsteps in the $1.5 million Group One race at Caulfield.
Peter Snowden has trained the winners of three of the past six Blue Diamonds at Caulfield and he and son and co-trainer Paul have two runners on Saturday, Pariah and Taking Aim.
Pariah stamped his credentials when he charged home for second to Property in the colts and geldings Prelude at Caulfield on February 11, his first Melbourne start.
When Snowden was head trainer for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation he won the Blue Diamond (1200m) with champion colt Sepoy in 2011 and the filly Earthquake in 2014.
In their first year as a training partnership, the Snowdens won with Pride Of Dubai in 2015 after he powered home to be narrowly beaten in the colts and geldings Prelude.
Sepoy and Earthquake won their Preludes.
Peter Snowden said having had a start at Caulfield was definitely a plus for Pariah.
“I’ve done that with all my other two-year-olds. Earthquake, Sepoy, Pride Of Dubai all did the same sort of thing, run two weeks before in that race,” Snowden said.
“I think his run was almost as equal to any of those so I’m expecting him to run well.
“I’m not saying equal on ability. That run on the day was equal to Pride Of Dubai’s (Prelude) run. He did the same sort of thing, he got back and ran on,
“Earthquake got back and ran on. Sepoy led.
“They’re all different horses but for me, his run was as good as what they did on their second start leading up into this race on the day.
“For me it was a pleasing run and he did everything I wanted to see him do.”
Pariah is $6 second favourite with Williamhill.com.au while Taking Aim is at $21.
Snowden agrees with the market that Pariah is the stable’s leading hope.
Taking Aim is backing up after his second in last Saturday’s Talindert Stakes at Flemington and he has blinkers for the first time.
“Taking Aim is a tough horse who has got through the Talindert really well,” Snowden said.
“I think the blinkers will help him. It just cost him the other day, wandering a bit late but with the blinkers on he should be fine.”
