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By Ray Hickson

Champion trainer Peter Snowden is convinced the stable’s star colt King’s Legacy is set for his best preparation this spring with the Group 1 Golden Rose his first target.

Trainer Peter Snowden (Pic: Steve Hart)

When you consider he ended his two-year-old year with successive Group 1 wins in the Inglis Sires’ (1400m) and Champagne Stakes (1600m) that’s quite a statement but Snowden said King’s Legacy has developed to his liking in his break.

The $1.4m colt walked back into the Snowden Racing stable at Randwick late last week, eight weeks after his Champagne win, and his physique caught the trainer’s eye.

“I just wanted to see a bit of natural growth improvement, I wanted to see him a bit rounder and stronger all over and he’s done that,’’ Snowden said.

“Whatever he did at two was going to be a bonus. He’s returned in good order and this should be his best prep.’’

King’s Legacy won three of his six starts at two and was unbeaten when he stepped beyond 1200m and Snowden said early plans have him tackling the Group 1 $1m Golden Rose (1400m), on September 26, with one lead up run.

TAB has the colt on the $11 line in all-in betting behind Golden Slipper winner Farnan ($6) and boom Queenslander Rothfire ($7).

“The Golden Rose is definitely on the table and possibly second-up,’’ Snowden said.

“We haven’t pencilled anything in or spoken to anyone about it.

“If he’s too far into a prep it might be a bit short for him so we’ll keep him fresh and have one run going into it. But he is going to be long enough in work, 10 weeks before he has a trial, so he will be nice and forward.’’

The traditional lead up to the Golden Rose is the Run To The Rose (1200m), conducted two weeks earlier, and that’s shaping as his likely return race though the preparation will become clearer once he nears his first trial.

Snowden said going to the mile of the Caulfield Guineas is the logical step beyond the Golden Rose.

“Right from a yearling he looked like a mile horse, if you ride him quiet he has a really good turn of foot,’’ he said.

“We noticed that towards the end of the autumn and the way he thrived on racing tells us he is going to be a tough horse.

"There’s a bit to work with and I’m looking forward to seeing what he does this prep.’’

King's Legacy wins the Champagne Stakes in April

Golden Gift winner Dame Giselle has also returned to work for the spring and Snowden said where she stands is a little unclear because her autumn was affected by wet tracks.

The filly was still competitive in all four starts following her Golden Gift win and managed to claim the Group 2 Reisling Stakes on a soft 7.

She last raced in the Percy Sykes, finishing fourth behind Away Game on a heavy track, and Snowden said once she finds firmer footing it’ll assist in working out whether she’s a sprinter or can stretch out beyond 1200m.

“I think a lot of her runs were on soft and heavy ground and she just doesn’t like it, she’s definitely better on top of the ground,’’ he said.

“She is better than what she showed in those races. What we saw in the Golden Gift on a good track showed the sort of turn of foot she has.

“Hopefully there’s good weather through the spring and we get to see her on good ground.’’

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