Latest News

By Ray Hickson

It’s hardly been a smooth spring for Group 1 winning filly Sheeza Belter so co-trainer Peter Snowden is hoping for something of a consolation win at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Peter Snowden (Pic: Steve Hart).

A mix of wet tracks and niggling issues have restricted the three-year-old to just one run and it was a hard watch as well in The Invitation two weeks ago.

Sheeza Belter started her spring in a barrier trial back on August 23 but it was two months before she’d actually face the starter on race day and Snowden said there’s plenty of improvement going into the Group 2 $500,000 Precise Air Hot Danish Stakes (1400m).

“I thought she went terrific. First-up from a few little setbacks in this preparation I thought her run was very good,’’ Snowden said.

“She only had one soft trial, that run has brought her right on and her work on Tuesday was very good so I am expecting a good run from her.”

In The Invitation, Sheeza Belter settled three back on the fence from barrier one and it wasn’t until nearing the 25m that William Pike was able to ride her out.

So to be beaten three lengths, and finish ahead of subsequent Group 1 winner Icebath, under those circumstances pleased Snowden and he said from gate six on Saturday, on a good track, it sets up much better for his filly.

“She gets a good run, should be about three pairs back and there should be enough speed there that they’ll roll along and she will be very strong late,’’ he said.

“I’m quietly confident she will run very well.”

Sheeza Belter was $4 with TAB on Thursday behind last year’s winner and The Invitation runner-up Electric Girl.

Regardless of the result in the Hot Danish, a break of some kind beckons Sheeza Belter but if she does run up to expectation and put herself in the finish she could be Magic Millions bound.

“When we had those setbacks we almost turned her out but she was still doing well in the stable, they were only little nicks and things going wrong so nothing serious,’’ he said.

“If she’s going well enough she could have 10 days off and get ready for the Gold Coast.”

Devil’s Throat will jump two from the outside in the Furphy Handicap (1200m) on Saturday and Snowden said that suits the honest four-year-old.

He’s missed a place in two runs since his first-up Kensington win but a closing fourth at Warwick Farm, beaten half a length, a couple of weeks ago was a sign he’s going well.

“He didn’t have a lot of luck when Reece Jones rode him at Randwick, he got buried away and couldn’t get out. I thought his run at Warwick Farm was solid,’’ Snowden said.

Sheeza Belter's first-up run in The Invitation on October 22

“The draw suits him too, he’s better off drawing out as he doesn’t like being crowded up. If he gets to the outside in the straight he’ll run very well.”

And if Ebhaar lines up in the New TAB App Handicap (1100m) expect a change of tactics.

The filly was a late entry for the race, as next Friday’s Canterbury night meeting is an option for her, and Snowden said a return to something like the run in transit that led to her second-up win is on the cards.

“We might be trying to overdo it by holding her up and it might be better to let her run, so if we do run her she will be a bit closer to the speed,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting