By Ray Hickson
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden are never short of a handy youngster when two-year-old racing kicks off in the spring and with six of the next generation making their debuts at Randwick on Saturday chances are they’ll unearth another talent.
Among them is a $1m colt, a $625,000 filly, a half-brother to Group 1 winner Russian Revolution and a half sister to last year’s Gimcrack winner Satin Slipper.
The Snowdens have won two of the last three Breeders’ Plates (Khan and Capitalist) and were runner-up with Bondi in 2017 while Satin Slipper provided a first Gimcrack as a training partnership.
Peter Snowden said the stable has more runners than usual, three colts and three fillies, but that’s because they have all shown positive early signs.
“We probably have no more numbers than last year but I had a lot of trouble with shin soreness last year,’’ he said.
“Whether it’s the horses or condition of the track I’ve been able to keep them sounder.’’
Here’s a rundown from Peter Snowden.
Group 3 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (1000m)
Mayaaseh wins her barrier trial at Randwick on September 17
Catch Me – Kerrin McEvoy ($4.60): “She’s an Easter yearling and you don’t see too many getting to the trials this early. It shows how precocious she is.
“I would have liked to draw a bit better but in saying that she is very push button, she doesn’t make mistakes and has good gate speed. She relaxes really well and I thought she trialled quite well.’’
Mayaaseh – Corey Brown ($3.60): “She really surprised me, her work has been good but she just trialled like a bomb.
“She did everything perfect, she jumped and cruised in front and wasn’t asked to do much at all but won really well.
"She’s definitely a filly that has a lot of upside. I’m not hellbent on leading but you can’t win these races sitting six deep, you need to get in somewhere.’’
Satin Socks – James McDonald ($12): “She has good natural pace, a bit more than Satin Slipper had, she’s a nice filly who has kept on improving and has come on again since the trial.’’
Group 3 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate (1000m)
Autocratic finishes off his barrier trial at Randwick on September 17
Autocratic – James McDonald ($12): “He’s a really nice horse, not as precocious as Russian Revolution, but he was really good late in his trial.
“Always the end of his work is the best part, 1000m may be a touch short but he is certainly a horse to follow for later.
“He was out of his comfort zone early in the trial, that draw might be good for him because we can ride him conservatively and not push him too hard.’’
Lionsgate – Corey Brown ($17): “He trialled well, showed good natural pace. He is a fast running horse, drawn a touch awkward but has good gate speed.’’
Rome – Kerrin McEvoy ($19): “He’ll probably go back, I think he will be better ridden quietly. He tries very hard, all he wants to do is please you and he’ll be going back and getting home.’’
Meanwhile, Snowden is quite bullish that Redzel will get his TAB Everest defence back on track in the Group 2 $500,000 Santos Coffee Premiere Stakes (1200m).
After missing The Shorts due to a stable mishap, leaving the gelding with muscle soreness, the horse has bounced back quickly.
“I can’t fault him, his work has been excellent and his blood count is the best it has been in 18 months,’’ he said.
“I don’t think it has hurt him. I was concerned on the day when we saw what we had but he has recovered quickly, I haven’t missed any work.
“He had two really solid gallops last Thursday and Tuesday that really brought him on.’’
Redzel was a $2.90 favourite during Friday’s TAB special for the Premiere and has regained Everest favouritism at $5 ahead of Trapeze Artist ($6).
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's meeting at Royal Randwick