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By Ray Hickson

Did we see the 2023 Longines Golden Slipper winner at Randwick in the shape of exciting colt Don Corleone?

Recent history would say it’s possible but regardless of whether he’s at Rosehill on March 18 co-trainer Peter Snowden is adamant the colt is a top line horse of the future and has a feature two-year-old race in him in the autumn.

Don Corleone has been high in Slipper betting with TAB since his first trial win back in the spring and he firmed to $11 for the $5 million classic with an arrogant win in the Petaluma Handicap (1000m).

“He’s a very nice horse, he’s tough, he’s got everything going for him,’’ Snowden said.

“It’s definitely not his go, sprinting, but I just wanted to make a statement with him to make sure he knows what racing is about and he delivered in spades.

“His trials I thought had just been okay and that’s why I put the blinkers on, I just wanted to make a statement with the horse to make sure he’s horse I think he’s going to be.”

Previous winners of this race in the past five years have included Stay Inside (2021) and Estijaab (2018) who made winning debuts and went on to Golden Slipper glory a couple of months later.

The win underlined the strength in the Snowden two-year-old ranks despite the results of the Magic Millions during the week and there will be decisions made in coming days as to where his next step is.

Don Corleone wins at Randwick

Snowden will produce current Slipper favourite King’s Gambit in next Saturday’s Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill, with James McDonald booked to ride.

McDonald positioned Don Corleone three wide from his wide gate but it didn’t matter as he ran out a three-quarter length winner over Kundalini with three lengths to early leader Coincide.

Not only did he race wide he posted the race's fastest last 600m of 33.28 (Punter's Intelligence).

“When I saw James was three deep midfield and he popped out four deep coming to the corner I was thinking he must be travelling well,’’ Snowden said.

“He needed to show you’ve got the ability to go all the way or if you’re just a pretender. I’m confident after that no matter where he goes he will be competitive.”

The decision to race in blinkers switched Don Corleone right on according to McDonald who was suitably impressed with the performance.

“He only does what he has to but that probably helps him in some ways,” McDonald said.

“He did a marvellous job travelling deep, blending in when he wanted to. He just felt like he idled once I got there, I probably got to the front too early but nice horse.

“He’s a pretty laidback sort of horse and he didn’t muster that quick a speed but I was able to blend in when I wanted to and it was a pretty smooth, strong gallop.”

All the results and replays from Royal Randwick