Perth jockey Mitchell Pateman is thrilled to have secured the ride on the Darren Weir trained Holy Snow in the Group 1 $1m Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.
Perth jockey Mitchell Pateman will ride Holy Snow, above, in the 2018 Kingston Town Classic at Ascot in Perth. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Holy Snow will be having his second run for the Weir stable after being previously trained by Caulfield mentor Mick Price and has been marked at $14 for the Kingston Town Classic with Ladbrokes.com.au coming off a last start second to Fifty Stars in the Group 3 $150,000 Araza Sandown Stakes (1500m) at Ladbrokes Park at Sandown on November 17.
“I’m just thrilled to pick up a handy ride,” Pateman told RWWA News.
“And to be associated with Darren Weir is special.
“I certainly wasn’t expecting it and it’s a big surprise.”
Pateman was in the running for the prized mount on Trap For Fools but then found himself still without a ride when Damien Oliver was booked for the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes winner.
“I reckon in the space of five hours I had three rides in the race,” Pateman said.
“I’ve gone from Elegant Blast to Trap For Fools to Holy Snow.
“And before all that I was on Scales Of Justice.
“I’m just thankful to have a ride in the race now.”
“I would have thought he has to be some chance and is not impossible.”
“I would think that Weiry wouldn’t be here wasting his time if he wasn’t a hope.”
Holy Snow’s place in the Kingston Town Classic was under a cloud after he played up behind the barriers and was then slow to leave the starting gates in a Belmont barrier trial on November 26 and was ordered back to the barriers by the West Australian stewards.
Weir then lined Holy Snow up in a 1450m trail at Lark Hill on Monday and the four year old was on his best behaviour and was cleared to take his place in the weight for age Kingston Town Classic.
The Weir stable will also saddle up $18 hope Iconoclasm with Dean Yendall replacing Craig Williams who was aboard the four year old for his last start eighth to Galaxy Star in the Group 1 $1m Kirin Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in Perth on November 24.
The three year old filly Arcadia Queen, with only 50kg on her back, is the clear cut favourite at $2.80 with the ‘Wiz Of The West’, William Pike, in the saddle again after guiding the filly to victory in the Group 2 $500,000 Sky Racing W.A. Guineas (1600m) at Ascot on November 24.
Pike also had the option to ride Arcadia Queen’s stablemate and $4.80 second favourite Galaxy Star, who he rode to win the Railway Stakes, but decided to stick with the lightly weighted Grant and Alana Williams trained filly.
Betting for the 2018 Kingston Town Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.80 Arcadia Queen, $4.80 Galaxy Star, $6 Trap For Fools, $8.50 Material Man, $14 Holy Snow, $16 Gatting, $18 Iconoclasm, Perfect Jewel, $26 Mister Sea Wolf, $34 Achernar Star, Great Shot, Star Exhibit, $101 Elegant Blast, Heart Starter, Prying Tom.
