Latest News

Hawkesbury has proven a happy hunting ground for Peter and Paul Snowden in the past.

The father and son training combination landed a treble, including the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas with Military Zone, at the Saturday stand-alone fixture on April 27, and look to continue that form at Sunday’s holiday weekend meeting.

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

Co-trainer Peter Snowden has named Convinced and Starry as the stable’s best prospects on the eight-race card.

Sam Clipperton rides Convinced in the Blacktown Workers 2YO Maiden Plate (1300m), and Tim Clark has the mount on Starry in the Jazcom Thoroughbreds Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m).

Convinced, a lightly-raced Not A Single Doubt colt, has taken on older horses when placed at his only two starts to date and is back against his own age.

“It looks the right race for him,” Snowden said.

“His two runs have been good, and he should be hard to beat.”

Convinced was a debut third to Constellations over 1300m at Newcastle on May 7, and 16 days later filled the same placing at Hawkesbury behind Ausfighter in another 1300m Maiden, beaten only a length.

Stablemate Oslo (running at Newcastle Saturday) and Parlour (instead contesting the PolyTrack Metro & Provincial Maiden Handicap, 1300m) have been withdrawn, leaving Convinced with 11 rivals.

Starry, a three-year-old filly by Exceed And Excel, followed two barrier trial placings with a first-up third to Lagarde in a Class 1 Handicap (1000m) at Kembla Grange on May 20.

She again opposes Lagarde with a 2.5kg weight swing in her favour this time, and has the better barrier.

“Starry is a real 900m-1000m horse, and has come on well since the Kembla race,” Snowden said.

“She should get every chance from the draw.”

The Snowdens also will be represented by another three-year-old filly Impetuoso (by Pierro) in the HRC Motel Class 2 Handicap (1500m).

“Impetuoso won over 1400m at Hawkesbury on May 9 and then ran fifth to Pandemonium over 1550m at Canterbury at her next start,” Snowden said.

“She is back slightly in distance, but definitely has a chance if she can get some luck from an awkward draw.”

Stablemate Deladies Boy also has drawn poorly and is not a certain starter in the Weddings At HRC Benchmark 64 Handicap (1800m).

“We might wait and keep him for another race next week,” Snowden said.

Convinced runs third at Hawkesbury on May 23

Hawkesbury trainer Matthew Vella will be keen to keep the Snowdens at bay in the 1000m Benchmark 64 Handicap.

He starts Bad Boy For Love, whom he prepares for the race sponsors Colin and Meagan Branthwaite, who operate Jazcom Thoroughbreds, a premium spelling and agistment farm at The Oaks.

A lightly-raced three-year-old by Wanted, Bad Boy For Love has started seven times for two wins and as many placings.

He broke through for his first victory over 1100m at Hawkesbury last December, and has trialled twice – the latest when third to Terminology over 1045m at Randwick on May 31 – in preparation for his resumption.

Mitchell Bell, who has partnered Bad Boy For Love in both wins (the other was at Bathurst in January over 1300m) and at his last five starts, has the mount again on Sunday.

Dual acceptor Mid Air – one of Paul Joice’s specials – has been withdrawn from the Conferencing At HRC 3YO Maiden Plate (1000m) to contest the PolyTrack Metro & Provincial Maiden (1300m).

Rachel King has been booked for the Lonhro filly, a Randwick barrier trial winner on May 31.

The rail is in the TRUE position for Sunday’s meeting, and the track on Friday morning was rated a Soft 5, with a penetrometer reading of 5.11.

Paul Joice’s selections:
RACE 1: MID AIR, Breaking Cover, Parlour.
RACE 2: CHANTERESSE, Black Sunrise, Dashing Special.
RACE 3: CONVINCED, Vaporizing, Saas Fee.
RACE 4: FREEFICA, Secret Work, Buzz.
RACE 5: LAGARDE, Greyt Weekend, Silver Melody.
RACE 6: TRAVANCORE, Doctor Zous, Hostwin Saturn.
RACE 7: MOANA JEWEL, Song And A Prayer, McMahon.
RACE 8: HIROKIN, Mo The Great, Peace Of Mind.
BEST: MID AIR, CHANTERESSE, TRAVANCORE.