By Julieanne Horsman
Promising Snitzel gelding, Calanda, will be chasing the biggest win of his career when he lines up in the $400,000 Inglis 3YO Guineas at Scone on Saturday.
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden resisted the temptation to chase the big prizemoney of the Sydney Autumn Carnival, instead setting Calanda for Scone.
“That’s always been the target for him and everything he has done has been building up to this race,” Paul Snowden said.
“Apart from the bad luck in the Hawkesbury Guineas, his preparation has been perfect.”
Calanda’s preparation got off to a flying start at Canterbury on Easter Monday with an impressive win in the Bowermans Officer Furniture Handicap (1100m).
With Hugh Bowman aboard, he was forced to travel three wide with no cover but dug in for the last 200m to win by a head.
“There was a lot of merit in his win,” Paul said.
He started second favourite in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas on 29th April but finished a desperately unlucky tenth. After jumping well and taking up the one one sit, he got boxed in down the straight and couldn’t get out.
“It was painful to watch but these things happen,” Paul said. “The long Scone straight will give him time to overcome any difficulty and most importantly Hugh Bowman has stuck around instead of going to Brisbane so he’s back on again.”
Calanda opened favourite for the Inglis 3YO Guineas and is now second favourite at $4.20 behind Prized Icon who is at $3.80 on TAB Fixed Odds.
Calanda has had six starts for three wins and two places. He’s already earned more than his $200,000 purchase price at the 2015 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
“He’s lightly raced and has a lot of upside and I think he will get to a good level,” Paul said.
View the fields and form (including race replays) for Saturday's Scone meeting here.