New stable recruit Tycoon Tara has given Peter and Paul Snowden victory in the first Group race of the Sydney season in the absence of her star stablemate Capitalist.
The Snowdens opted not to run the Golden Slipper winner in Saturday’s Group Two Missile Stakes (1200m) because of the heavy track but the second string performed to perfection.
Conforming to the pattern of the day, Blake Shinn took Tycoon Tara ($7) straight to the front and rated her to perfection.
Although getting tired in the final 100m, she had enough in the tank to hold off the favourite Rebel Dane ($2.50) by half a length with the same margin to Mount Nebo ($6).
“She was sent up to us for a change of scenery and to see if we could get her winning again,” Peter Snowden said.
“She had a good record when she came up and she has thrived. Now that she’s won we will see if she can do it again.
“There was some talk she might go to stud but if she keeps winning she won’t be going there.”
Snowden said the mare was a casual worker and he was not sure what to expect on the heavy ground.
“You could see the white flag going up 100 metres out and Blake really cuddled her over that last bit,” he said.
“That makes the win even better.”
Shinn is the regular rider of Capitalist but the three-year-old’s 51.5kg ruled him out of the Missile ride and he went on to Tycoon Tara instead.
He will be reunited with the colt next week when he makes his delayed return in the San Domenico Stakes.
“I was able to control the race in Tycoon Tara and over the last 100 metres she rally dug deep,” he said.
Tommy Berry said Rebel Dane had tried hard but just couldn’t pick up the leader.
