Co-trainer Paul Snowden said that High Spirit would be put away with the Autumn in mind after he runs in the Group 3 $125,000 XXXX Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy, above, rides High Spirit in the Sunshine Coast Guineas. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Snowden, who trains in partnership with his father Peter, can see the slow maturing High Spirit benefiting greatly from his two runs during the Queensland Winter Carnival and will give the High Chaparral three year old plenty of time to develop before preparing him for a 2017 Autumn Carnival campaign.
“We’ve had to take our time with this horse and let him develop in to his big frame,” Paul Snowden said.
“But he seems to have really benefited from the trip to Queensland as previously he wanted to over-race and now he will work with you rather than against you.
“We are looking at him as more of an autumn horse. He only had a short freshen-up before heading to Queensland and he probably would benefit from longer spell.”
The lightly raced High Spirit won his maiden back in May over 1200m at Gosford and earned a trip to Queensland two starts later when second in a 1600m BenchMark 71 Handicap at Warwick Farm on June 1.
High Spirit raced in the first half of the field and was beaten less than two lengths when fourth to the Chris Waller trained Tsaritsa in the Group 2 $400,000 MIRVAC Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.
Kerrin McEvoy takes over from Tim Clark on High Spirit who has drawn well at barrier three in the Sunshine Coast Guineas.
Snowden can see the High Chaparral colt improving immensely as he steps up in distance in his four year old year and can develop into a genuine competitor at Group company in the Autumn.
“Also being by High Chaparral, he’ll only get better the further he steps up in distance,” Snowden said.
“He is going well so with such a well-bred colt you would obviously like to get some black type.”
High Spirit is well in the betting for the Sunshine Coast Guineas at $7.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au behind $3.10 favourite Sold For Song and Melbourne colt Tavaci at $3.70.
Sunshine Coast Guineas market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.10 Sold For Song, $3.70 Tivaci, $7.50 High Spirit, $9.50 Mr Individual, $10 Reneged, $12 Perfect Dare, $18 Madame De Ban, $20 Shotacross The Bow, Time To Torque, $21 Roxy Rhythm, $34 Bold Avenue, $41 Patronizing, Passion In Flight, $51 Martial Art, $91 No Doute Ben.
