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By Ray Hickson

She’s already banked $554,150 in five starts but co-trainer Peter Snowden says it’s important for Stellar Pauline’s spring prospects that she adds $16,740 to that total by breaking her maiden at Hawkesbury on Thursday.

Trainer Peter Snowden (Pic: Steve Hart)

So far in her short career the filly has finished second in four high class two-year-old races including the Group 3 Gimcrack, the Magic Millions Classic and the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes.

But Snowden said it’s important for Stellar Pauline to get on the board in the PF Formation Plate (1100m) from a confidence point of view.

“Too often you go to the races and keep running good races but not winning,’’ he said.

“Horses can learn bad habits quickly. They keep thinking they can’t win and they get that mentality they can clock off.

“She’s not like that but it’s the time of year she has to make her mark and it would be good mentally for her to go up there and hopefully bowl them over. But there’s no guarantees, you can run into anything in these races.

“I think it would do her preparation a world of good if she could get that win under her belt.”

Snowden elected not to send Stellar Pauline into Saturday’s Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick, where stablemate Dame Giselle will resume, with that mission to get a win on the board in mind.

The filly has trialled twice, including a close fourth behind Invictus Salute and Splintex on August 14, and is the $3 favourite with TAB at Hawkesbury.

He said the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) on September 5 would see Stellar Pauline rejoin the Princess Series all going well on Thursday.

“There’s another Group 2 race in a fortnight so I’m losing nothing as far as black type goes because there’s plenty of those coming up if she is good enough,’’ he said.

“Going back a step might be worthwhile to go three steps forward after that.

“Her trials have been good, you could take her to town on Saturday and be confident she would run in the first three. But I don’t want that, I want a win beside her name and to build on that.’’

Stellar Pauline runs fourth in a Kensington trial on August 14

Stayer Carif may kick off his spring preparation in the Listed $150,000 Pioneer Services Rowley Mile (1600m) though Snowden said a month gap to his planned second-up run is not ideal.

Carif hasn’t raced since finishing second in the Chairmans Handicap (2600m) in April and is on a Cups preparation but Snowden said he’ll likely remain in Sydney for his first three runs.

The other option for a starting point is probably the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) in two weeks at weight-for-age.

“I’m happy with him, we just have to plan a path with him,’’ he said.

“It’s not a bad starting point, it’s a mile and he will be a bit competitive but the Kingston Town Stakes is a month away and it’s long gap.

“I’d like to see him run well, he probably won’t win the race but it’d be good to see him nice and strong late through the line.”

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Hawkesbury meeting