Peter and Paul Snowden may not have had anything to smile about at the feature Brisbane meeting, but they have produced a couple of possible future stars at Randwick.
Three-year-old Not A Gypsy showed his staying potential when he beat older horses to win over 2600m while juvenile Russian Revolution won the 2YO Plate in dashing style.
Russian Revolution covered the 1200m in 1:10.83 on Saturday’s soft track, a faster time than the hardened sprinters recorded in the Winter Dash later on the program.
The Allan Denham-trained Mount Nebo ($11) won the Winter Dash by three-quarters of a length over eight-year-old Decision Time ($41).
Paul Snowden travelled to Brisbane to saddle up their runners at Eagle Farm where Artistry was 10th in the Group One Tattersall’s Tiara, That’s A Good Idea fourth in the Group Three Healy Stakes and Pajaro fourth in the Listed Giles Stakes.
His father Peter stayed at home for a satisfying afternoon and while he believes Russian Revolution can be a force in the early spring races, Not A Gypsy is still a work in progress.
“We were trying to get him to the Queensland Derby but I wasn’t confident he would get there,” Snowden said.
“He is still maturing but has ability.”
Not A Gypsy finished less than two lengths from Queensland Derby runner-up Rodrico in a 2000m race at Randwick in late May and was narrowly beaten at his next start.
On Saturday, Tim Clark nursed him for the first part of the race, giving the $4.80 favourite every chance to run out the distance.
“I wanted to give him as easy a run as possibly at his first start over the distance,” he said.
“He ran it out well.”
Not A Gypsy beat Defrost My Heart ($21) by a half length.
Russian Revolution’s second win from two starts has earned him a couple of weeks rest before Snowden takes advantage of his residual fitness in the early season three-year-old races.
“Normally this time of year you see a downturn in the restricted two-year-old races but there’s some really smart ones that have come out lately,” Snowden said.
“He’s coming right at the right time and has a fair bit of upside.
“He may have a two-week break now and then we’ll look at getting him back for one of the Golden Rose lead-up races.”
