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By Ray Hickson

It might not have been plan A or even plan B with Huetor to be tackling Saturday’s Group 2 $2m The Ingham (1600m) at Royal Randwick but co-trainer Peter Snowden hopes the Group 1 winner can snare what would be a special first-up win.

Trainers Peter (left) and Paul Snowden (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Not just because the import could easily have lost the sight in his left eye after contracting an infection that cost him his spring campaign.

But because of the ties Snowden has had with Jack and Bob Ingham and their family, working for them as assistant trainer to John Hawkes for 14 years before taking over as trainer in 2007, that he says have afforded him the position he’s in today.

When the Inghams’ Woodlands empire was sold to Darley in 2008 he was Sheikh Mohammad’s trainer for six years before establishing Snowden Racing with son Paul.

The Ingham, formerly the Villiers Stakes, honours the Hall Of Fame inductees and raises funds and awareness for the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research.

“What they’ve done for charities, especially in the Liverpool area, is amazing,’’ Snowden said.

“The family are big supporters of the community and huge supporters of racing.

“There’ll be a fair bit of sentiment going with this one.

“I’ve never met two nicer men in my life, they were so good to myself and my family when I came to Sydney.

“Because of them and the job I had I never looked back. It’s not just a job they gave me but the opportunities they gave me as well.”

Huetor’s eye injury required repeat graft surgery and with one trial under his belt, on November 29, Snowden said he’s ready run well but concedes he still faces a task with 59kg.

He beat Zaaki to win the Doomben Cup at the end of May and hasn't raced since a midfield finish in the Q22 (2200m) on June 11.

“It was a shame we missed the spring but we’re lucky we’ve got him back racing,’’ Snowden said.

“It was serious, he could have lost the sight in his eye.

“He’s in good shape. We needed to see him trial nicely to be thinking about going here.

“If he didn’t trial well enough I’d probably just give him another trial and tip him out.

“There was enough in the trial and in the way he’s worked since to say he’ll run well. The mile is not his go, he’s a 2000m horse, but being so fresh and a good handy horse, he’s so genuine, he’ll run well but it’s not like he’s been set for the race for three months.”

The six-year-old, $6 with TAB on Thursday, will have to break the modern weight carrying record set by Monton, who shouldered 58kg in 2011, if he is to claim The Ingham.

Regardless, Snowden said he expects Huetor to really come of age in 2023 with major Group 1 targets on the radar possibly culminating in the $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

“Anything around the 2000m mark and 2400m is certainly within his grasp,’’ he said.

“We’ll be having a go at a few races next year and I’m looking forward to it too.

“He did well in his first prep and he won a Group 1 in his second, I think there is still a bit more left in him.”

Consistent sprinter Ranges is back for another campaign and lines up alongside stablemate Najmaty in the Listed $160,000 Racing And Sports Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) on Saturday.

Huetor runs second in a Canterbury trial on November 29

Snowden said the Ramornie winner will have two runs in Sydney before heading to Brisbane and is expecting his usual honest run first-up.

“He’s in good shape, he’s a very genuine hose. You wouldn’t have thought he’d be a carnival horse 18 months ago but here he is a regular, and he wins,’’ he said.

“He’s been a revelation for the stable, he keeps on getting better.”

Najmaty resumed in the Starlight Stakes (1100m) two weeks ago and was beaten 2.5 lengths by Zethus and, while drawn the outside, Snowden is confident she can improve with a bit more luck.

“Her run was very good, she missed the start and was a mile back and buried away but still ran on. If she steps with them she could be right in the race,’’ he said.

“It might not be such a bad thing, she hasn’t been jumping well of late and getting in late might be the key to keeping her get out better.”

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