News

10

May 2025

Beadman Bolts Away with G3 Ken Russell Memorial

When the China Horse Club/ Newgate and partners stallion syndicate elected to name an expensive Snitzel colt Beadman there would have been high hopes he could honour the name and it looks like a good decision was made. Trained by Peter Snowden, Beadman, named after champion Australian jockey Darren Beadman, has show ability for the get go. He showed talent in two barrier trials in March and April before a debut second at Kembla and a win at Newcastle, but jumped right out of the ground at the Gold Coast on Saturday when stepping up in class for the $200,000 Group III Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m). Ridden by James McDonald, Beadman relished the heavy track and romped home to win as he pleased beating previously unbeaten Hellbent filly Sunrays by a widening eight lengths with Group I winner Startante’s little brother Fabulantes in third place. It was the first ride on Beadman for James McDonald and he was impressed with good looking chestnut. "He's always promised a lot and he's a beautiful type. So he's definitely got a bright future. That was the definition of sustained speed,” said McDonald. "I couldn't hear them coming, which was a bit of a worry because I didn't want one of them to blouse him. I hadn't expected him to be that far in front of them, so I was able to be pretty soft on him late. “He's a big colt and he's still learning his craft, so he won't take any harm from that and I'm sure he'll win another race up here." Peter Snowden will be looking for bigger fish for Beadman to fry with the $1million Group II BRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) on May 31 is a likely target. "The only question was whether he could handle that sort of track. He handled it pretty well at Newcastle but this one was a bit different. He kept skipping along on it, and for James to let him stride before the corner, I knew they must be going pretty well,” he said. “The progression he's made just this last month is pretty incredible. "He's clearly very talented, and he doesn't know how good he is. He doesn't overdo it in his trackwork, he's a very laid-back customer. He did give me the feeling that we could come up here and win a decent race with him, but he's certainly surprised me today with that performance. "We'll soak up the win first, but I don't think seven furlongs will be any problem for him so we'll definitely be looking towards the Sires with him." A $900,000 Magic Millions purchase from Arrowfield for China Horse Club/Newgate/Go Bloodstock/Trilogy, Beadman has had two wins from three starts earning nearly $150,000 in prizemoney Bred by Arrowfield in partnership with Hermitage Thoroughbreds, Beadman is the best of three winners from French stakes-winner Iffranesia (Fr), who is by influential sire Iffraaj. Iffranesia had no yearling at the sales this year, but had a colt by Snitzel last year and is now on foal to Dundeel. Beadman is the 159th stakes-winner for Arrowfield’s champion sire Snitzel, who is the leading sire of 2YO’s in Australia this season.Copy: Breednet

3

May 2025

$1.4million Written Tycoon Colt Wins G3 Hawkesbury Guineas

Written Tycoon has an amazing crop of three year-olds running for him this season that has now yielded an impressive 12 stakes-winners with expensive colt Media World taking out the $250,000 Group III Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) on Saturday. The highest priced yearling from that stellar crop when purchased by Yulong for $1.4million from Fairview Park Stud at Inglis Easter, Media World broke his maiden at Hawkesbury on this day last year when winning the non Black Type Clarendon Stakes for juveniles. Trained by Peter Snowden and ridden by Tyler Schiller, Media World was second up from a spell and looked good scoring first up in midweek company last month, so was expected to run well again albeit up in class. Media World got to the front in the straight and held off a late bid from Just Party to win by a head taking his overall record to three wins and three placings from 10 starts with prizemoney topping $340,000.A trip to Brisbane would now be on the cards for Media World with races like the Group III BRC Fred Best Classic and possibly the Group I BRC Stradbroke Handicap on the radar if he continues to improve. Media World was bred by Frank and Christine Cook’s Mystery Downs and they retain a share in his ownership.He is the first foal of Group III winner Epaulette mare Meryl, whose next foal, a colt by Capitalist sold for $320,000 at Inglis Easter when bought by MG Price Racing & Breeding / Roll The Dice Syndication / Rogers Bloodstock. Meryl certainly throws a good type as her third foal, a filly by Pierata sold for $330,000 at Inglis Easter this year to Randwick Bloodstock and she has a Pierro filly to follow. Media World is the 76th stakes-winner for Written Tycoon, who is listed as private by Yulong for this spring.Copy: Breednet, Images: Georgia Young Photography

30

Apr 2025

Tassort 2YO Filly Too Good

Just days after Tassort narrowly missed G1 success in Adelaide where his star three year-old filly Ameena was edged out of victory in the SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes, he struck at Canterbury with another promising filly. Trained by Peter Snowden and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Miss Freelove showed good potential at her first start two weeks ago when running third at Warwick Farm and went to the post as favourite.She led and controlled the race comfortably before dashing away to win the 1100m maiden by more than two lengths prompting praise from her trainer. “She travelled really well and I thought, watching the race coming to the corner, if she doesn't find something here, we're in a bit of trouble, because she had such a soft lead,” said Peter Snowden. “Kerrin rated her well and it was good to see her win the way she did. “I like her, I've always liked her and she’s by a stallion sire (Tassort) that's doing a great job and they keep improving. I like her, she's doing a great job. I just keep on improving although how far we go in this prep will be decided by how she pulls up.” Miss Freelove carries the Trilogy Racing colours and was a $110,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase for Trilogy Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock from the draft of Twin Hills Stud. Bred by Redbank North, she is the third winner from three to race from Vee, an unraced half-sister by Sebring to stakes-winner Terror Force. Miss Freelove is the fifth winner from 13 starters out of the second crop of Tassort, who stands at a fee of $38,500 this spring at Newgate Farm.Copy: Breednet

27

Apr 2025

Snowden eyes record eighth Hawkesbury Crown

Champion trainer Peter Snowden is chasing a record eighth win in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) with talented mares Coco Jamboo (pictured above), Flying Thinker and Tashi at the stand-alone meeting on Saturday. Coco Jamboo is returning as the defending champ and is attempting to join former stablemate Aerobatics (2013-14) as the only dual winner of the big Hawkesbury fillies and mares race. Snowden has also won the Crown with Nancy (2016), Kanzan (2011), Serenissima (2010) and Sung (2008). In fact, the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting has been a happy hunting ground for Snowden ever since he started his training career with Darley in 2008. Snowden has also trained the winners of a record five Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) with Exoboom (2021), Military Zone (2019), Limes (2013) and Free Wheeling (2012). He will have Media World and Fearless in the three-year-old classic on Saturday. In fact, Media World (below) is no stranger to Hawkesbury stand-alone success himself having won the $160,000 Clarendon Stakes (1400m) for two-year-olds last year – giving Snowden another training record with his fifth win in the race after Creator (2019), Meursault (2014), Kanzan (2009) and Fravashi (2008). Media World, a superbly bred colt by Written Tycoon out of Meryl, resumed with a fighting win at Warwick Farm against older horses earlier this month. "I thought Media World did a super job in a very fast run race at Warwick Farm,'' Snowden said. "He came off the bridle a fair way out but stuck to his task really well. "He will back up in the Hawkesbury Guineas and if he runs well on Saturday then we will look at the Fred Best Classic in Brisbane.'' Fearless, a Group 1 placegetter, has been improved by two runs from a spell and Snowden is expecting a competitive effort in the Hawkesbury Guineas. Snowden said Fire Star, winner of four city races in succession when last in work, has trained on well since his first-up fifth to Pisanello at Canterbury and could take his place in the Listed $200,000 Hawkesbury Rush (1100m).Copy: Ray Thomas, Racenet

15

Apr 2025

Akaysha - One To Watch

The juvenile maiden at Kembla on Tuesday was an intriguing affair featuring a number of well-bred colts on debut, but the winner was a stylish first starter filly by Capitalist that broke 56 seconds for her debut win. The Peter Snowden-trained Akaysha was easy in the market despite good efforts at her two most recent trials, but with high expectations on some of the colts engaged, punters did not expect her to win. Given a quiet ride by Tom Sherry in a fast run race, Akaysha worked into the clear and accelerated well to hit the front and held off the late finish of stablemate Beadman to win by a long neck in 55.86 seconds, which is not far off the course record of 55.58 seconds Akaysha is a home bred for David Baxter’s Macquarie Stud and is a full sister to stakes-winner Ka Bling and half-sister to the dam of stakes-winner Brudenell being the sixth winner from eight foals to race from Group III winner Zingaling. Also bred and raced by Macquarie Stud, Zingaling has not had a foal since Akaysha. Akaysha is the tenth two-year-old winner this season for Capitalist, who has sired stakes-winning juveniles in Australia and New Zealand this year in Memo and To Cap It All. Copy: Breednet

15

Mar 2025

Memo ‘Australia’s Best Maiden’ No More

With $600,000 in the bank and four placings from her first five starts Capitalist filly Memo was ‘Australia’s best maiden’ until she went to Rosehill on Saturday where she kicked the bridesmaid tag to the kerb with a late charging win in the $250,000 ATC Magic Night Stakes (1200m). Trained by Peter Snowden, Memo was up and going to win at the official two year-old trials last spring and has been kept going ever since with a summer campaign for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in which she ran second to O’ Ole. She finished out of the placings for the first time when eighth to Within the Law in the Group III ATC Sweet Embrace Stakes, but was able to turn that form around with a withering finishing burst. Memo enjoyed a sweet run in transit back in the field on the fence and when angled into clear running she hit top gear as the widest runner and zoomed past her rivals to win by half a length for Kerrin McEvoy and has now won over $750,000 in prizemoney. Peter Snowden is not only the trainer, but also a part-owner and is not keen to back up in the Golden Slipper. “It’s unlikely she will run. She’s had a long preparation and the Percy Sykes (G2) might be more her go,” he said. “To my mind, it’s a very hot day and to try and back up a filly that has had a long prep like that might be a bridge too far. “If we go to the Percy Sykes she could have three or four days in the paddock and bring her back in. She’s held good condition and is a very fit filly. We’ve just got to get her mindset right as that’s a hard race to win and I’m not taking it lightly, but she’s a damn good filly.” Foaled and raised at Newgate, Memo was a $350,000 Magic Millions purchase for her trainer and runs for an ownership group that includes her breeders Love Racing. She is the second foal and first winner for Group III placed Fastnet Rock mare Notation, a daughter of South African Group I winner Chocolicious (SAfr). Newgate sold a Stay Inside colt from Notation at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $380,000 to Yulong and she was covered by Capitalist last spring after having the previous year off. Memo is the 23rd stakes-winner for Newgate Farm’s Capitalist, who won the Golden Slipper in 2016 and was also trained by Peter Snowden.Copy: Breednet, Images: Georgia Young Photogtaphy

25

Feb 2025

Amreekiyah - One to Watch From Kembla

Promising debut winner at Kembla on Tuesday in the Emirates Park colours is Justify (USA) filly Amreekiyah, who has a half-sister by Home Affairs to be offered at Inglis Easter. Trained by Peter Snowden and ridden by Braith Nock, Amreekiyah has been handled patiently and was unsighted at two, but showed nice ability in two trials this year. She was allowed to find her feet in the run and let down with a surging finish to power home and win the 1300m maiden by a neck doing her best work on the line. A $420,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft, Amreekiyah runs for Emirates Park and various Snowden stable clients. She is a half-sister to Group II winner Yaletown and is the second winner from multiple Group placed stakes-winner Marianne (NZ), a Darci Brahma mare from the family of recent stakes-winner Prairie Flower. Coolmore sold a full sister to Amreekiyah at Inglis Easter last year for $800,000 and will offer her yearling half-sister by Home Affairs as agent for Morning Rise Stud this year as Lot 50. Marianne produced another filly by Justify last spring and was then covered by Wootton Bassett (GB).Copy: Breednet

25

Oct 2024

Snowden stacks the bases in Brian Crowley

High Octane headlines Peter Snowden’s three-strong contingent for the Brian Crowley Stakes. The Brian Crowley Stakes will be a pivotal assignment for talented colt High Octane and trainer Peter Snowden is putting him on notice to perform. Snowden is certain the Blue Diamond Preview winner is the class horse of the race and he is hoping an outside gate gives the three-year-old the chance to prove it. Resuming with an encouraging third to Gatsby's in The Rosebud (1100m) in August when he had to thread between runners, High Octane had a hit-and-run trip to Melbourne where he finished fourth to Growing Empire in the Poseidon Stakes (1100m). He again found himself in among rivals from a rails draw when finishing sixth in Group company last start and from the outside alley at Randwick, Snowden wants to see him rediscover his best form. "It is D-Day for him, especially with this ownership group (Newgate stallions syndicate). They don't muck around too long with them, and he got the warning sign last start so he's got to perform on Saturday," Snowden said. "But it looks like a good race for him. I think he is the best horse in the race and he has been racing without a lot of luck. "He gets a good rider on board (Joao Moreira) and drawn seven is a plus for him because he doesn't like being buried away inside of horses. "He should be able to get clear air here and get to the outside. I think you'll see a better performance from him on Saturday." Snowden is also looking for the usually consistent King Of Roseau to lift in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) after he over-raced when down the track in the Tapp-Craig (1400m) last start. Winkers come off the colt and Snowden is hoping that performance was an anomaly. "He was disappointing the other day but he over-raced badly and he has never done that," he said. "It was a slow-run race, seven-furlongs, and he got posted three-deep and just saw clean air and took off. He pulled way too hard and he was a shot duck on the corner. "I am wiping that race out of my mind. "If he gets cover and gets back to his old form, he is certainly capable of winning. He just needs to do things right again." The lightly raced Manos rounds out Snowden's team after a stylish maiden win at Warwick Farm earlier this month. "It's a big jump from maiden class to that class but the good alley should give him a soft run and he does have ability," Snowden said. "He is not without a sneaky chance, but High Octane is definitely my top pick in the race." Snowden is also looking for another bold run from Coco Jamboo in the $2 million The Invitation (1400m) after her luckless first-up fourth behind favourite Olentia in The Nivison (1200m). "It's a good field, Grahame Begg's horse (Magic Time) is probably the class horse in the race and the one to beat, but I'm happy with her and I was rapt with her first-up run," he said. "She is very genuine. She puts in and she stays in and tries really hard. She is tough as nails."

1

Oct 2024

Generation Next: 'Work hard, apply yourself, and surround yourself with the best people'

Hard work and patience are key ingredients to progressing in the thoroughbred industry, and Colum McCullagh, climbing from a stud gardener to racing and bloodstock manager for Peter Snowden, has them both in spades. Growing up in County Meath, Ireland, McCullagh’s earliest memories of the thoroughbred industry consist of regular trips to the local jumps racing yard with his father. “My dad had a couple of point-to-pointers - slow ones, mind you,” McCullagh told TTR AusNZ. “I used to be put up on the pony, walking around the yard at that stage.” Colum McCullagh riding as a 4-year-old | Image supplied McCullagh would not pursue a career in the saddle, but he would re-engage with the industry as a late teenager when he took up a summer gardening job with Robert Byrne’s Platinum Bloodstock. His employment coincided with the start of yearling preparation, and it wasn’t long before McCullagh found himself holding the end of a leadrope. “I learned the ropes there (Platinum Bloodstock) on horse husbandry and how to handle them properly,” said McCullagh. “It was quite clear to me early on that I caught the bug and I (have) never looked back.” After finishing school, McCullagh spent a year working full time for Platinum Bloodstock, before moving to Kildangan Stud, the Irish base of Darley Europe. He would work the breeding season, summer in New York working in construction for his brother-in-law, then return for the breaking-in season in the autumn. Colum McCullagh whilst at the Irish National Stud in 2015 After three years with Darley, McCullagh applied for the revered Irish National Stud thoroughbred breeding management course. “That was a really good jump start,” said McCullagh, who was part of the 2015 intake. “It’s obviously a very well-renowned course, and it gave me a foundation for what way I wanted to go and how to get there.” McCullagh added polish to his resume for the rest of that year with sales work and breaking in yearlings, and it would be in that winter, while working for Moyglare Stud in County Kildare, that he would be inspired to make an international move. “It was December in the cold depths of winter in Ireland and we were lunging yearlings,” reminisced McCullagh. “It was hammering down with rain, the wind was howling, it was freezing cold, and I said, I (have) got to go somewhere warmer.” A warm Australian welcome Landing in Australia soon after, McCullagh headed straight to the Hunter Valley to work for Arrowfield Stud. “(Arrowfield) is a household name in the Australian breeding industry,” he said. “I got to do a bit of everything there, I’ll always be thankful to the Messaras for giving me that opportunity.” In June of 2016, he was introduced to Warwick Farm’s resident multiple Group 1-winning trainer Matthew Smith, which would lead to his first proper exposure to the Australian racing industry. Matthew Smith | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan “Thankfully he (Matthew Smith) saw some sort of spark in me, and offered me a role,” said McCullagh, who became Smith’s racing manager for the next two and a half years. Smith had never had a racing manager before, and McCullagh described working together with him to figure out how that role could best serve Smith’s successful training business. “I had some great guidance from him, and also Melissa (Smith), who is really the backbone of the business. They gave me a fantastic grounding on the racing side of things.” McCullagh continued, “Matt is very good with a stayer, (and) he really has a knack with older mares.” Shining examples of Smith’s success have been Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow) and Nimalee (So You Think {NZ}), who were both 5-year-olds when victorious at the highest level. “He’s grown that business a lot since I left and he’s got no bigger supporter than me, it’s great to see him doing so well,” added McCullagh. “We were lucky enough to have Fierce Impact in the stable when I was there, and then I left and he won two Group 1s, which I missed out on!” Fierce Impact (Jpn) | Standing at Leneva Park Stud Imported to Australia in late 2017, Fierce Impact (Jpn) retired to stud with three top-flight victories to his name, capped by the G1 Makybe Diva S. His oldest progeny appeared at the yearling sales earlier this year, landing in the stables of renowned judges Lindsay Park, Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, and Michael Freedman. New connections In early 2019, McCullagh made the move to Randwick and took on the role of racing manager for Peter and Paul Snowden. “The role I have now is very open, it can change a lot,” McCullagh said, who has expanded this role in the last five years to cover bloodstock interests as well. “It (has given) me that opportunity to learn from the best, from the racing side of things, but also the bloodstock, buying, selling, trading side of things. I’ve been lucky that I’ve learned from the best in both dimensions.” An exciting aspect has been helping the client base expand, and exploring new avenues, including tapping into the import market. “Bloodstock has always been a love of mine,” McCullagh continued. “When I went to the Snowdens, they never really bought and syndicated yearlings and imports, (but) since I’ve been there, we’ve made a huge kick in the market, and we’ve had great success doing it. There’s a huge appetite for the staying races and the prizemoney.” High-profile Northern Hemisphere acquisitions in recent years include rising star Touristic (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and high flying Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}). “We selected and purchased (Huetor) from France for a very reasonable price,” said McCullagh. “He’s won two Doomben Cups now, and hopefully he can head down to Melbourne and make his presence felt this spring.” Exciting prospects With the arrival of the new racing season, attention turns to the 2-year-olds, and the first appearances of potential breed-shaping colts. “The Snowdens have always been dubbed as juvenile trainers, with their success putting colts to stud.” In his tenure with Team Snowden, McCullagh has witnessed colts such as Captivant, Cosmic Force, and Wild Ruler secure their place at stud. “We always get the support of the colt syndicates. For us, those are our high market owners.” Two new stallion prospects have emerged in the past season in Don Corleone, set to stand at Eureka Stud, and King’s Gambit, a new addition to Newgate Farm’s formidable roster. Seeing the latter win the G2 Roman Consul was a highlight of the racing season for McCullagh. “There was a lot of work put into that horse to get him where he was,” McCullagh said. “We had a very high high that day, and then we had a very low low when he popped a temp a couple of days before the Coolmore down in Melbourne but seeing him go off to stud now is obviously exciting.” The newly turned 3-year-olds offer several exciting prospects in McCullagh’s eyes, chief among them being High Octane (Deep Field) and Bodyguard (I Am Invincible). High Octane Bodyguard On Bodyguard, “he's probably one of the best-looking horses you've ever seen, and he's back in great shape, hopefully he's in for an exciting spring.” Bodyguard has yet to step out in the new racing season, but High Octane was mostly recently seen bolting home after Group 3 winner Kibou (Maurice {Jpn}) in a Randwick trial. “Another highlight would be seeing Xidaki win the (G3) Winx Guineas,” added McCullagh. Bred and owned by Angelo 'Lucky' Pippos, Xidaki (Zoustar) was also victorious in the Listed Canberra Guineas earlier in the year. “He’s for a very special owner. It was very rewarding to get that stakes win for him, a very special moment.” Having patience McCullagh feels fortunate to be able to continue learning as the Snowden training partnership transitions back to Peter Snowden at the helm, with his son stepping back to spend time with his family. “Peter is a very hands-on trainer, always had that approach,” McCullagh said. “I learn a lot from him in terms of horse husbandry - it’s almost as if he can read horses’ minds sometimes, it’s bizarre! “I will forever be in debt for what he has taught me to date, in terms of training, business, life. He’s a fantastic mentor. Paul needs to be included in that too.” McCullagh is also appreciative of the opportunities available in the Australian industry, “if you’re willing to work hard and apply yourself, you’ll get noticed. Employers will find you.” Although he does impress the need for patience as well as work ethic. Peter Snowden and Colum McCullagh Reminiscing on a job interview with Malachy Ryan, manager of Moyglare Stud, McCullagh recalled having “the cheek” to ask for more money, “(Ryan) said don't worry, you need to not panic, money will come, and he was right. You think you want to get to the top as fast as possible, and you need to have a little bit of patience. “If you work hard, apply yourself, and - as we say - surround yourself with the best people and surround your horses with the worst horses, you'll be sure of getting a winner.”

17

Sep 2024

Snowden hopes galloper becomes cut above after decision to geld.

Trainer Peter Snowden would like to think the best is yet to come from lightly raced galloper Need Some Luck following the decision to geld the half-brother to champion sprinter Chautauqua. The four-year-old has won two of six starts and Snowden said the Vale Graham McNeice Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury on Wednesday is an opportunity to get the preparation off to a positive start. Trainer Peter Snowden.Credit:Getty “He was a bit of a thinker and hopefully, we can get him back on track and get him to a decent level,” Snowden said. “He’s always worked well and showed plenty in trials, but I don’t think he’s really lived up to it on race day. “It’d be good to see him run well first-up because he will improve again on where he’s at. “Good horses win when they are only three parts ready, you want to see them getting better all the way through.” Need Some Luck had three runs in the winter and was a winner over the Canterbury 1250m on a soft track on June 10 and went for a break after finishing third at Warwick Farm on heavy ground. Snowden believes the horse is better on good tracks so with two trials under his belt he has the right platform to perform well first-up. It was noticeable that jockey Tommy Berry asked Need Some Luck for an effort in winning his most recent trial over the 1050m and that was by design. “He’s been gelded now, so we wanted him knuckling down and putting his head down where it should be. Hopefully we see the best version of him,” Snowden said. “He’s come back in good order, his trials have been good and he’ll be a chance there. “Off that good draw I’d expect him to be running well. He can go forward, or back, depends on the tempo of the race. “He’d be midfield from the draw, he’s got a good finish and hopefully we get to see it.” Snowden has Fire Star on a seven-day back up and Mafia engaged in the Ranvet Handicap (1100m) with a decision to be made on whether both contest the race. Fire Star has won one of his nine starts and Snowden said he didn’t have the best of luck when running fifth behind Tanglewood last week and hopes a gear change turns his fortunes around. Supplied by Racing NSW

29

Aug 2024

Snowden downsizes stable and puts a focus on quality over quantity

Peter Snowden is used to overseeing big teams as a trainer, but, as his career moves into its next phase, he will concentrate on a smaller team full of quality. Snowden split from a partnership with son Paul, who is set to continue to training in his own right, at the beginning of the season after more than 1200 winners and 20 group 1 victories, and it was the right time to reassess the Randwick stable. Free-running Media World takes out the Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury in May.Credit:Getty Images The operation had ballooned to more than 120 horses in work, and Snowden decided to hand back a couple of barns to take the number down to 75 horses. “I just wanted to make it a little more manageable and focus a bit more on quality,” Snowden said. “I don’t think it will affect our numbers of winners that much, and it will just be a little easier to be hands-on, which I was anyway. “It’s hard to get staff these da,ys and with only 75 horses it means we can give them the best of care and attention with the staff we have.” Snowden started his training days at Darley, which has become Godolphin Australia. He had a massive team that produced more than 1300 winners and 29 group 1 successes. Since being a public trainer, Snowden has been the chosen destination for the bluebloods from Newgate Farm and James Harron Bloodstock, winning multiple group 1s for two of the shrewdest yearling buyers in the country. Australia’s biggest studs want to have stock in his yard. Yulong Stud trusted Snowden with $1.4 million purchase Media World, which returns in the Up And Coming Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. The Written Tycoon colt won the Clarendon Stakes before heading for a spell rather than pushing on to the Brisbane winter carnival. “When I was at Darley, I had some good winners of that race that went to Brisbane and won races, and he is up with them,” Snowden said. Peter Snowden has reduced his Randwick team to 75 horse with a focus on quality.Credit:Getty “I just gave him a bit of time, and it has worked because he put on more than 20 kilograms. He has always been an athletic type, and I think with a little maturity he’s going have a good spring.” Instead of taking on the speedsters, Media World will start his preparation at 1300m. “I thought this race would suit him because he is a horse that likes to roll at a good tempo, and at this trip he should be able to do that without too much pressure,” Snowden said. “I think he will be very strong at the end. “He could get through to a race like the Golden Rose, and he might even get out to a mile, but we are still learning about him.” Earlier, King Of Roseau resumes in the San Domenico Stakes against Gatsby’s and Storm Boy. Snowden warned not to underestimate him after he was a $41 runner-up in the Magic Millions National Classic in May. “He is definitely more of a sprinter and he doesn’t know how to run a bad race,” Snowden said. “He has been sharp at the trials and will be competitive in this grade.” Zarrose completes the Snowden team heading to Rosehill. She is chasing a hat-trick of wins in the benchmark 78 after strong finishing victories at Newcastle and Randwick. “She took a bit of working out, but she is best fresh around this trip of 1500m,” Snowden said. “If she can relax in her races, she has a wicked turn of foot, which we saw last time. “I thought she was too far back, but she stormed home late. “I would have liked to draw a barrier with her, just to be that little closer, but if you look after her in the first half of the race, she will have plenty to give late. “If she runs up to what we think at Rosehill, I think the Tibbie Plate would be a great race for her.”

23

Aug 2024

Team Snowden gearing up for September's 2-year-old trials

As we move closer to spring, The Thoroughbred Report has launched its 'Stable Tours' series, where we speak with leading stables across Australia about young thoroughbreds to watch in the coming months and the plans for their established stars. In Friday's edition we chatted to Snowden Racing's racing and bloodstock manager Colum McCullagh about horses to watch. Continuing The Thoroughbred Report’s ‘Stable Tours’ journey, TTR AusNZ caught up with Snowden Racing’s racing and bloodstock manager, Colum McCullagh, on Thursday to discuss some of the juveniles we may see step out at the official 2-year-old trials in September. McCullagh also provided updates on the plans for some of Snowden Racing’s classy 3-year-olds and the established brigade. Starting with a colt named Impact Zone (Exceed And Excel), McCullagh shared that the colt was purchased for $575,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy from the draft of Rosemont Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. “We’ve got a number of 2-year-olds coming through the stable at the moment that we are teeing up towards the official juvenile trials on the 23rd of September,” McCullagh told TTR AusNZ. “We have some nice horses for the Newgate/China Horse Club Colt Syndicate and the James Harron Colt Syndicate as well. There’s a 2-year-old colt called Impact Zone. He’s by Exceed And Excel out of a Power mare called Gift Of Power for Henry Field and the team. “He’s showing quite a bit. It’s still early days, but everything we’ve asked of him at this stage, he’s doing on his ear. So, he’s one to look forward to if he goes the right way.” Gift Of Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) won 11 races, including the G2 Wakefield Challenge S., the Listed Wellesley S., and the Listed Levin S. McCullagh added, “Another horse would be one named Caesar. He’s a Capitalist horse out of Fimatino. He’s the top-priced Capitalist this year, bought by James Harron. He’s a beautiful, athletic type of horse. “He looks to have a bit of longevity as well. He’s not your typical Capitalist; he's got a bit more leg under him and moves really well.” Caesar was an $800,000 purchase by James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership from the draft of Attunga Stud at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt is the half-brother Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}), winner of the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and G3 Breeders’ Plate. “To be fair, you don’t really know until the next couple of weeks as we start increasing their workload and open up the bonnet a little bit. But there’s a couple of horses there, and another one would be a Russian Revolution colt out of Aalto that we purchased ourselves. “He’s out of a Pierro mare. We bought him from Blue Gum Farm at the Magic Millions in January. He’s not your typical Russian Revolution. He seems to have a little bit more scope and size to him, but he moves very well.” The son of Russian Revolution is from the Pierro mare Aalto, who is a daughter of Miss Mooney Mooney (Redoute’s Choice), a winner of the Listed City of Marion and placed in the G2 Schweppes S. He was purchased by Snowden Racing from the draft of Blue Gum for $240,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. “Another one would be a Capitalist filly out of Notation. She’s one that we purchased on the Saturday night of Magic Millions. She was bred by Rob Love and the late Donna Love. She’s a beautiful filly, just very straightforward, out of a nice Fastnet Rock mare. She has a really good mindset and is very good mentally, which is going to take her a long way.” Notation won five races and was placed in the G3 Tibbie S. and finished fourth in the Listed Mona Lisa. The filly was purchased for $350,000 from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Rounding off the juveniles to watch, McCullagh said, “There’s a Russian Revolution colt out of Eiffel Tower that we bought from Vinery at the Magic Millions. His brother is a horse called Capital Delight, who is racing in Hong Kong and has won over $1.2 million in prize money.” Eiffel Tower (Stratum) is a half-sister to the Listed winner Sangria (I Am Invincible) and from the family of Manhattan Rain and Rubick. “He looks like a real up-and-running 2-year-old type. He’s very strong, very forward, and showing plenty.” McCullagh also nominated a son of So You Think (NZ) from the Encosta De Lago mare Crystal Flute, now named The Confidante. A dual winner, she is also the dam of Meritable (Snitzel), who was placed in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the G2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial S. “We purchased this So You Think colt from The Chase. Mr Teo is a very good client and has retained equity in the horse, and it’s good to have Duncan Ramage from Think Big Stud/DGR come into the horse. “It’s good to have people who raced So You Think themselves coming into a son of his. There’s a little bit of equity left in him as well, which has surprised me.” High Octane on Golden Path McCullagh indicated that he and Snowden were pleased with the first-up run of High Octane (Deep Field) in last Saturday’s Listed The Rosebud. The Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Colts and Geldings) victor finished third behind Gatsby’s (Snitzel) but was eye-catching in the run home. “He’s come through The Rosebud really well. He was definitely, if not the one, the eye-catching run out of the race. I think everyone else was kind of a little bit obvious in their runs, and there were a few disappointing ones, but High Octane gave us what we really wanted to see. "He made up a lot of ground late, and his late sectionals were also very, very good. We should see him come into full effect as we get him over a little bit further. At this stage, we’re tossing up a few different ideas with Henry Field on what way we go, but we’ll be looking to get him to the Run to the Rose and then onto the Golden Rose. “Then we’ll toss up the idea of the Caulfield Guineas. If he’s looking for the mile and he’s strong over the seven furlongs in the Golden Rose, it’s a possibility. We always felt he’d have the pace for the Roman Consul and the Coolmore, but he’s probably showing now, as he’s starting to get really fit, that he’s more looking for that 1400 metres and maybe even a mile trip.” McCullagh also shared that last Saturday’s G3 Quezette S. winner, Drifting (Zousain), has come through her run well and is likely to return to Sydney for the G2 Furious S. “She’s a very brilliant filly. Drifting has very good tactical speed. Her sectionals first-up down in Melbourne in the Quezette S. were through the roof. She has shown she can do it from behind and from the front. “At this stage, we’ll probably keep her over those shorter trips. She’s not a gross filly; she’s quite athletic, so you’ve got to be a little bit mindful of that, taking into account that she’s only just turned three; she’s still very young. Luckily, Drifting hadn’t been overly taxed as a 2-year-old but was brilliant for the owners and everyone that supported us in getting involved in the filly when we bought her from the sales. “It was a big thrill to get that Group 3 win as a 2-year-old in a Slipper lead-up, and luckily, we put to bed the temptation to go to the Golden Slipper with her. We’ve reaped the rewards first-up as a 3-year-old, and we’ve added to her price-tag as a broodmare now. “We’ll keep her over shorter trips. There are a couple of options down in Melbourne, but currently, we will bring her back up to Sydney and look at contesting the Furious S. next with her.” Commenting on Drifting’s versatility, McCullagh said, “For such a lightly raced young filly, she’s done a great job. She’s won a stakes race on a clockwise bend in Sydney. She’s had a run up the Flemington straight, where she’s placed in a stakes race, and now she’s won around an anticlockwise, tough track of Caulfield. “She’s added some strings to her bow.” Bodyguard a Coolmore Boy? Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) burst onto the scene by winning the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. in the spring and returned in the autumn to claim the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings). He was considered a leading contender for the G1 Blue Diamond S., but was scratched by Racing Victoria vets. “He had a little bit of an interrupted preparation when he won the Blue Diamond Prelude. He was a late scratching from the Blue Diamond on Victorian Vets' advice. He’s come back in really good order. “We’ve just been taking our time with him, and all going well, we’ll see him resume in the Danehill or the Roman Consul, and then head on through to the Coolmore Stud S.” The Yulong-raced colt, Media World (Written Tycoon), is another horse the stable holds in high regard. “He’s a Written Tycoon out of Meryl, who was raced by Francis and Christine Cook. They also bred Media World, and they have stayed in the ownership. “He won the Clarendon S. at Hawkesbury last start, and was probably just doing that on raw ability as a 2-year-old. He’s the first foal out of the mare, so he probably just lacked a little bit of physical presence, but he’s really sprouted as a 3-year-old now, and we do believe there is a good race in him.” The Snitzel filly, Sakima, a $1.25 million purchase by Snowden Racing, William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA), and Trilogy Racing from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, will resume in Saturday’s G2 Silver Shadow S. “We have Sakima racing this Saturday in the Silver Shadow. She’s going to hopefully go through the Princess Series. She’ll start in the Silver Shadow, then we’ll probably wait for the Tea Rose and hopefully get her to a Flight S. if we can.” Exciting spring ahead Several established stable stars are gearing up for an exciting spring campaign. Queen Of Dragons (Pierro), who won the G3 Kembla Grange Classic and finished fourth in the G1 Vinery Stud S., is among those preparing for the season. McCullagh shared, “She’s a full sister to Paris Dior and is raced by Trilogy Racing. She trialled super on Tuesday and will head to the Mona Lisa S. at Wyong, Sunday week, first-up.” The G2 Expressway S. and Magic Millions Carnival star, King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible), is also set for a spring campaign with an eye on returning to the Gold Coast in January. “He is back in work. He will ultimately look to do another Gold Coast assault at the Magic Millions. But between now and then, we’ve always looked at setting him up for the Sydney S. on Everest Day. It’s a $2 million race over 1200 metres and a Group 3, so right up his alley. He’ll be just kept fresh, and we will hopefully target something like that.” “He (King Of Sparta) is back in work. He will ultimately look to do another Gold Coast assault at the Magic Millions. But between now and then, we’ve always looked at setting him up for the Sydney S. on Everest Day.” - Colum McCullagh The dual G1 Doomben Cup victor, Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}), has also returned to the stable. “He’s been a revelation for the stable in terms of purchasing and syndicating imports. He’s on a Caulfield Cup path, so fingers crossed we can get him there. Huetor raced through the winter, and unfortunately, he couldn’t make it a three-peat in the Doomben Cup this time around. We’ve kicked off the northerly box, so hopefully, we can get him down south and see how we go.”Another import, Touristic (GB) (Frankel {GB}), is on a Caulfield Cup path and will resume on Saturday in the G3 Premier’s Cup. “Touristic is another horse who also races in the Francis and Christine (Cook) colours. He’s a Frankel, and he’s running this Saturday in the Premier Cup. He’s really come to hand well. He ran super in the Grafton Cup, finishing second up there. So, he’s starting to build a nice resume for himself and seems to have acclimatised this preparation. Touristic also holds a nomination for the Caulfield Cup. He needs to tick a few boxes before we look at a race like that for him, but we’ve always got to keep the door open.” The progressive import, Unspoken (Ire) (Territories {Ire}), is on an Epsom H. path. “Unspoken, our Five Diamonds winner, is hopefully going to get to an Epsom. He probably lacked a little bit of lustre in his last preparation. However, if you go back to this time last year, he was picking them off like dominoes. Hopefully, he can get back to that sort of form. We know the talent the horse has got, and he holds a nomination for the Cox Plate as well. “If he can get back to the form he was in last spring, which is quite common with these imports because they don’t race all year round in the Northern Hemisphere, so you have to take that into account as something they adapt to. They are used to having a nice, long holiday before they’re asked to perform again. All signs are showing that he has come back in good shape, and we’ll look forward to getting him to the trials next Friday (30th).” Copy: Keely Mckitterick, The Thoroughbred Report Cover Image: Ashlea Brennan

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