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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Peter Snowden would like to think the best is yet to come from lightly raced galloper Need Some Luck following the decision to geld the half-brother to champion sprinter Chautauqua.

Trainer Peter Snowden (Pic: Steve Hart)

The four-year-old has won two of his six starts and Snowden said the Vale Graham McNeice Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury on Wednesday is an opportunity to get the preparation off to a positive start.

“He was a bit of a thinker and hopefully we can get him back on track and get him to a decent level,’’ Snowden said.

“He’s always worked well and showed plenty in trials but I don’t think he’s really lived up to it on race day.

“It’d be good to see him run well first-up because he will improve again on where he’s at.

“Good horses win when they are only three parts ready, you want to see them getting better all the way through.”

Need Some Luck, $2.20 with TAB on Tuesday, had three runs in the winter and was a winner over the Canterbury 1250m on a soft track on June 10 and went for a break after finishing third at Warwick Farm on heavy ground.

Snowden said it’s his view that the horse is better on good tracks so with two trials under his belt he has the right platform to perform well first-up.

It was noticeable that jockey Tommy Berry asked Need Some Luck for an effort in winning his most recent trial over the 1050m and that was by design.

“He’s been gelded now so we wanted him knuckling down and putting his head down where it should be. Hopefully we see the best version of him,’’ Snowden said.

“He’s come back in good order, his trials have been good and he’ll be a chance there.

“Off that good draw I’d expect him to be running well. He can go forward, or back, depends on the tempo of the race.

“He’d be midfield from the draw, he’s got a good finish and hopefully we get to see it.”

Snowden has Fire Star on a seven day back up and Mafia engaged in the Ranvet Handicap (1100m) with a decision to be made on whether both contest the race.

Fire Star has won one of his nine starts and Snowden said he didn’t have the best of luck when running fifth behind Tanglewood last week and hopes a gear change turns his fortunes around.

“I thought his run here wasn’t too bad, he got chopped out at a vital stage but he got going again late which was good to see,’’ he said.

Need Some Luck wins a trial at Randwick on September 9

“I changed the gear, put a visor on and taken the nose roll off. He’s got a good gate to get the right sort of run so hopefully he gets a bit of luck.”

Mafia is also nominated for a race at Newcastle on Friday, he’s won two of his four starts this preparation, and Snowden said if he’s there on Wednesday he’ll run his usual honest race on the speed.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting