Born and bred in Scone, Peter Snowden is a regular supporter of the town’s annual two-day carnival and he is again set to have a strong hand this year with six runners.
Two-year-olds Akaysha and Miss Freelove head his squad in the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m), the pair on the second and third lines of betting respectively behind favourite Stardom.
Akaysha boasts particularly strong form, having defeated stablemate Beadman on debut last month, that colt subsequently going on to post a dazzling eight-length win in the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial (1200m) at the Gold Coast last Saturday.
She was then touched out by smart youngster Grand Eagle at her only other start over 1100m at Randwick.
“Talk about good form,” Snowden said.
“She beat Beadman and only got beaten narrowly last start right on the line so it’s great form going into this race.”
Akaysha has drawn awkwardly in barrier 13 but Snowden says that isn’t a major disadvantage at Scone.
“One thing about the 1100 metre start there is it’s a really long run to the first corner so barriers aren’t quite so important as against a track that is really tight and turning,” Snowden said.
“I’m not too worried about where she is drawn.”
Miss Freelove followed a midweek placing on debut with an emphatic all-the-way win at Canterbury last start and has continued to train on well.
Snowden doesn’t think there is much between them and will be happy to see either of them add their name to the race’s impressive honour roll which includes Libertini (2019), In Secret (2022) and Lazzura (2024).
“She ran a good race first-up at Warwick Farm and won easily at Canterbury her next start so she is going up there in good form as well,” he said.
“Luck in running will determine the difference, there’s not much between them. Hopefully one of them is good enough to get up.”
Snowden’s Scone team also includes Ka Bling in the Luskin Star Stakes (1300m), Fire Star in the Ortensia Stakes (1100m) and filly Wave Breaker in the Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m).
The latter is part-owned by Australian Turf Club Director Annette English and her partner Daniel Morgan, who like Snowden hail from Scone.
“They come from Scone so they are really keen to see her run well. Hopefully she can for them,” Snowden said.
“She is going great. It was a great run first-up against older horses and I gave her a trial the other day to keep her up to the mark. It was a good trial. She is going up there in really good order.”
