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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Peter Snowden isn’t pretending Saturday’s $10m James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill won’t be a challenge for lightly raced galloper Xidaki but says he could be a surprise packet.

Trainer Peter Snowden (Pic: Steve Hart)

The gelding was a $71 chance with TAB on Wednesday but what Snowden likes about him is that he has a will to win and is still improving.

Xidaki earned exemption into the race via his close second in the Silver Eagle and Snowden said there was so much upside in the horse’s fitness coming out of it.

“He’s only had 10 starts and it’s amazing what he’s done. He’s flying under the radar, which I like,’’ Snowden said.

“It was a tremendous performance off one soft trial to run second in the Silver Eagle.

“He had a good draw and a soft economical run, he’s just a very determined horse who keeps sticking his head out and tries so hard.

“I’m under no illusions this is a really good field and he probably looks outclassed but I know one thing’s for sure and that's he’ll do his best.”

The four-year-old won the Canberra Guineas back in March and was set for his shot at the Golden Eagle after a brave win in the Group 3 Winx Guineas over a mile on July 14.

“We had the Winx Guineas in our mind as the last run of the prep and his win in that race you had to see to believe,’’ he said.

“He drew a wide gate, he went forward and was four deep then went back to near last and circled the field and still won.”

Snowden said the charitable aspect of the Golden Eagle is a great way for racing to give back to the community and he’s hoping Xidaki can provide Youngcare, a charity that works to improve the lives of young people living with disabilities, with a nice boost.

Xidaki drew the middle of the Golden Eagle field and Snowden said it should mean he settles four or five pairs back, then it comes down to luck in running and whether he can measure up.

“We’ll do enough to hold a midfield spit but having a trouble free run is important,’’ he said.

“If he sees gaps late there’s no doubt in my mind he will be finishing off hard. He keeps raising the bar, since the Silver Eagle I’ve worked him with some decent horses at home and he keeps standing up.

“All the key indicators you want to see are there and he keeps getting better. It’s a big ask and I’m not going to put much pressure on him but he might surprise a few people.”

The barrier draw was a lot kinder to King Of Sparta in Saturday’s $3m Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) than it was in his first-up fourth in the Sydney Stakes so Snowden is hopeful he can figure in the finish.

King Of Sparta was forced to race wide but still hit the line to be beaten just over two lengths by Overpass.

Xidaki runs second in the Silver Eagle

“His run was good the other day. He wasn’t beaten far off a wide draw and he ran very well,’’ he said.

“There was no disgrace to his run, he drew 17 and was five and six deep, he went back worse than midfield and did a lot of good work late.

“There’s some big names in that race but he’s not far behind those horses.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Golden Eagle meeting at Rosehill