Top Sydney trainer Peter Snowden has earmarked the Group 1 $3m Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 4 as a priority for his Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win.
Shooting To Win will be set for the Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Above winning the 2014 Caulfield Guineas at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
But Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, is still to finalise the three year old’s Autumn Carnival lead up races.
The Snowdens are also chasing another Group 1 Guineas win following Shooting To Win’s victory in the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield during last year’s Melbourne Spring Carnival.
With the Group 1 $600,000 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick and the Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington both run on March 7, the successful training team will wait as long as long as possible to decide which path to take.
“He’ll definitely be nommed in both races and, if for some reason we think he’s got a better chance in Melbourne, I’ll have no qualms in sending him down there no problem whatsoever,” Snowden told RSN’s Racing Ahead.
“He’s been there and done it and handles that way of going well and it’ll definitely give us another option on that day.
“That’ll be his second run back this time, so we’ll use it to our benefit and see what happens.”
The Snowdens have pencilled in the Group 2 $200,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 21 as the race to kick start Shooting To Win’s Autumn Carnival campaign and will get a good guide at his progress when he steps out in a 1050m barrier trial at Randwick on Thursday.
Shooting To Win will be up against Gai Waterhouse’s two Group 1 winners Cosmic Endeavour and Diamond Drille in the trial as well as Chris Waller’s well performed mares Catkins and Arinosa.
Shooting To Win is currently on the second line of betting for the Doncaster Mile at $11 alongside of Chris Waller’s Epsom Handicap winner He’s Your Man and John Thompson’s Flight Stakes winner First Seal behind $6 favourite, smart Hong Kong galloper Able Friend.
