While many trainers might be keen to dodge a clash with the Magic Millions Classic favourite, Paul Snowden is welcoming the challenge of debutant Customized taking on Storm Boy in the B J McLachlan Stakes.
Storm Boy is a long odds-on favourite to extend his record to two wins from as many starts in Saturday’s Group 3 Eagle Farm feature and Snowden has nothing but respect for the Tulloch Lodge colt.
But he also sees him as an ideal measuring stick for Customized.
“It’s not a bad thing because you get to know where you sit,” Paul Snowden said.
“You’ve got to have a horse who is continuing to improve and if he’s going to be in it (Magic Millions), he’s got to be figuring in the finish.”
Customized posted a recent barrier trial win at Randwick and is due to travel to Queensland overnight on Wednesday.
Saturday’s B J McLachlan Stakes (1200m) will be his first race start and while he has shown speed at the trials, Snowden says he is likely to be ridden more quietly from his outside draw in barrier seven.
“He’s a nice horse. He was a little bit new in his trials and he’s been a bit keen at times,” Snowden said.
“But there weren’t too many in his latest trial and he jumped, controlled it and looked like he had a little bit in hand.
“He will probably be ridden a little bit conservatively from the draw and he’ll hit the line better.”
Blake Shinn has the ride on Customized, who is a $12 chance in pre-post markets for Saturday’s race, and $51 for next month’s Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
Whether he presses on to the feature will hinge on Saturday’s performance.
“He’s got to win or run second to warrant a run. It all depends on the result on Saturday,” Snowden said.
Peter and Paul Snowden won 2019 B J McLachlan Stakes with King’s Legacy, who went on to finish fifth in Away Game’s Magic Millions before returning in the autumn to claim the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes-Champagne Stakes double.
