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By Ray Hickson

Has the market under-rated one of the two Peter and Paul Snowden youngsters at Randwick on Saturday simply due to a “bad barrier’’?

The two-year-old in question is Morpheus, rated a $9.50 chance by TAB behind his stablemate Legislation ($3.20) in the New Year’s Day at Royal Randwick Plate (1100m).

Peter Snowden intended to split the two colts but a wide gate in Brisbane forced him to scratch debut winner Legislation while he’s committed to running the unraced Morpheus from his outside barrier.

“He’s definitely got talent though barrier 12 takes a bit of the gloss off his chances but what will be will be,’’ Snowden said of Morpheus.

Morpheus leads all the way to win a Gosford trial - December 19

Both youngsters are being aimed at the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast in two weeks but Morpheus needs to win to ensure a spot in the final 16 while Legislation is safely in the field.

It’s clear Snowden has a decent opinion of Morpheus, a $110,000 yearling purchased by James Harron, to be setting him such a task on debut and he has the fingers crossed Blake Shinn can find a spot in running.

“If he wins he’ll be a serious contender because there‘s a fair bit of upside to him,’’ he said.

“Legislation won well at his only start and his work has been solid.

“Morpheus is not as educated, he hasn’t had the same work, but he trialled very sharply with blinkers on, ran quick time and did it easily.

“I wouldn’t be gunning him out of the gates, it’s too much to ask a horse that’s very new and to do that would take his chance away. He’ll be forward but I wouldn’t be trying to lead.’’

Legislation caused a minor upset when winning at Randwick back in October and he had an easy trial at Gosford on December 19 to blow out the cobwebs.

“He does everything right, jumps and travels well and does everything that he’s asked. I expect him to run well again,’’ Snowden said.

Promising three-year-old Brave Song is racing for an autumn carnival campaign when he tackles #Theraces Handicap (1200m) second-up after a stunning fresh win.

My Country is one of four Snowden runners in the Christmas Classic. (Pic: Steve Hart)

Brave Song ($1.85 with TAB) overcame plenty of traffic at Canterbury first-up and was still good enough to win decisively, with Punters Intel data revealing his last 200m was a slick 11.52, and a similarly easy win would see Snowden raise the bar.

“It will test him, it’s hard to win against older horses and if he happened to win well again I’d ease him back a tad to bring him back for the carnival,’’ he said.

“He needed to pull out something big and I thought considering what happened the effort for an inexperienced horse was quite solid.

“He should just sit off them and have last look and see if he can pick them up.’’

The Snowden stable has four runners in the Listed $150,000 Christmas Classic (1200m) in Dothraki, Snippets Land, Denpurr and My Country.

Of the quartet Snowden expects Snippets Land, an eye-catching first-up fifth in the Razor Sharp, to prove very competitive.

Here’s what he had to say about the foursome:

“Punters don’t know just how fat Snippers Land came back, I thought he’d take four runs to come up but his first-up run was very good. He’s there to run well on Saturday.

“My Country has had a freshen up but looks very good, the two runs last prep were quite solid. Denpurr is honest but was a bit average last preparation. Mares can do that and her trials have been okay.

“Dothraki’s first run wasn’t bad with 60kg on that (heavy) track. It took a bit out of him so I gave him a month between runs and a soft trial.’’

Check out the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Royal Randwick meeting.