Darley trainer Peter Snowden is thinking of calling a halt to Albrecht’s Spring after the three year old runs in the Group 2 $250,000 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill tomorrow.
Albrecht could be sent for a spell after the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Albrecht went down in a photo finish to stablemate Epaulette two weeks ago in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill and originally that was to be the colt’s Grand Final.
But the Redoute’s Choice three year old pleased Snowden so much in the days after the Golden Rose that he decided to give him one more run before sending him to the paddock, ruling out a clash with Epaulette in the Group 1 $1m Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 13.
“He looks fantastic and his work on Tuesday was as good if not better than before he ran in the Golden Rose so there was no reason to tip him out,” Snowden said.
“He certainly hasn’t gone over the top, I wouldn’t be running him if he was.”
“For me the way he has come through the run made me all the more keen to run, I don’t care what is in it.”
Snowden has always held a high opinion of Albrecht and that influenced stable rider Kerrin McEvoy to select him for his Golden Rose mount ahead of eventual winner Epaulette who became Tommy Berry’s first Group 1 winner.
“I’ve always rated him one of the best colts we have in the stable but this is his first prep and I don’t want to overtax the horse,” Snowden said.
“I always thought he could win the Golden Rose and you could make a case that he should have won. If you swap positions in the race he probably would have.”
Albrecht and Epaulette both settled at the rear of the field in the Golden Rose and while Berry peeled Epaulette to the outside, McEvoy was forced to wait and go inside a runner, momentarily hindering his momentum, but the pair then had a tight battle down the middle of the track with Epaulette getting the judge’s decision by a head.
Snowden sent Epaulette to Melbourne to pursue a Caulfield Guineas path and with the Caulfield meeting being held on Sunday because of Saturday’s AFL Grand Final, McEvoy will get the opportunity to ride both colts this weekend.
Epaulette is currently the $2.60 favourite for the Group 3 $175,000 BECK Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) ahead of Ashokan at $5 and Shamexpress at $6.50, both finished behind Epaulette in the Golden Rose.
With another bold showing on Sunday, Epaulette will cement his place near the top of the Caulfield Guineas market where he is currently at $7.50 behind the Gai Waterhouse pair of Pierro ($1.95) and Proisir ($5.50).
