John Sadler has only had Snowalot for a short period but knows one thing, the horse can stay.
It is for that reason Snowalot will run in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday which carries a $300,000 first prize cheque along with a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption.
Sadler says there is not a lot going for Snowalot, other than his stamina.
“You often hear the saying ‘we’re having a shot from the boundary line’, well this is from behind the grandstand,” Sadler said.
“The horse can definitely stay, but whether at the set-weights he’s going to be able to get involved, I don’t know.
“He’s a pit-pony. He’s about 395kg, he’s a tiny horse, but mind you (Melbourne Cup winner) Rekindling was the same.
“He’s a tiny a little fella that you want to put a big rug on in the mounting yard so no-one sees him.
“But he’s a lovely horse and he can stay.”
An Irish-bred son of Camelot, Snowalot won at Salisbury and Goodwood in the UK for Hong Kong-based owner Bon Ho and will carry the colours of Classique Legend on Saturday.
Sadler said Ho bought the gelding on the recommendation of a bloodstock agent in Europe where Snowalot performed OK, without being brilliant for trainer James Ferguson who has a number of other horses for the owner.
At his only Australian outing, Snowalot finished eighth behind Detonator Jack over 2100m at Sandown last month after missing the start.
“You would never have thought you would be running him in a race like this,” Sadler said.
“But when I ran him first-up he walked out of the barriers and missed it close to 15 lengths and went to the line well.
“The 2800 metres on Saturday won’t be a problem, so you never know.”
