By Ray Hickson
Trainer Peter Snowden says he’ll have a clearer picture of what Satin Slipper’s carnival target will be after Saturday’s Listed $125,000 Lonhro Plate (1100m) at Warwick Farm.
The Gimcrack Stakes winner is currently at $26 with TAB for next month’s Golden Slipper but Snowden isn’t so sure that’s where she will be seen at her best in the autumn.
That said, Satin Slipper (who opened $3.60 favourite for Saturday's race with TAB) has done nothing but please Snowden since her return with two barrier trials and is certainly not talking her down.
“She trialled great the other day, she's a nice filly,’’ he said.
“She's going to get further, I'm convinced of that.
“What she does on Saturday will tell us whether we look at a Golden Slipper preparation or more towards the Sires' and Champagne.’’
Satin Slipper reeled off a slick 33.55 for her last 600m in the Gimcrack, second only to Fiesta (33.53 Punters Intel) to win on debut over the 1000m.
Satin Slipper wins her trial at Randwick on January 29
Obviously with a bit of time she’s matured and Snowden said she still has the quality to sprint well even if his suspicion about her wanting more ground is correct.
“She's a bit stronger but still presents with that really good attitude. She's very laid back, real push button, and a real racehorse,’’ Snowden said.
If there’s one horse in the Snowden stable that has the champion trainer excited it’s lightly raced colt Assimilate.
The three-year-old ran the second fastest last 200m of the Group 1 Golden Rose (behind the winner Trapeze Artist) at his last run in the spring, 12.25 (Punters Intel), and Snowden has long said the best will be seen of him in the autumn.
“He's going great, I really like this horse. I'm not changing my mind,’’ he said.
Assimilate lines up alongside in-form stablemate Brave Song in the Group 3 $150,000 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
As excited as he is about Assimilate he said the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) is his early aim and he may find the first-up task a touch short.
“I'd say in the Hobartville you'll see him putting his hand up,’’ he said.
“He'll run well on Saturday but in the Hobartville you'll see him run really well and if I see that it's towards the Guineas from there.’’
The Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) is run on March 10.
As for Brave Song, Snowden scratched the colt from a barrier trial on Monday having given the horse a jump out three days earlier.
Brave Song is unbeaten this time in with impressive wins at Canterbury and Randwick in December.
“He's come off a freshen up and I want him really sharp for Saturday,’’ he said.
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Inglis Classic meeting at Warwick Farm