Snippets Land got his nose in front of Religify right on the line to record a career best victory in the 2016 BRC Sprint at Doomben this afternoon.
Snippets Land scored a narrow victory over Religify in the 2016 BRC Sprint at Doomben on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Religify was very well-backed in the BRC Sprint and he looked as though he had the race won when he kicked clear at the top of the straight, but Snippets Land absolutely savaged the line to record an impressive victory.
Shinn had not ridden Religify since the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) last year, but he was confident going into the race on the back of the Snippetson gelding’s effort in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on May 7 and he was pleased with the will he showed to win.
“He got in really well at the weights today,” Shinn said.
“It was a slightly awkward draw, but I was able to navigate across pretty well and I let the speed go.
“He settled nicely and we manoeuvred our way out at the turn and he knuckled down and really had that desire to win today, which got him over the line.”
Snippets Land had not recorded a race win since he took out the Global Independent QC Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on January 16 and co-trainer Peter Snowden was clearly delighted to see the five-year-old return to winning form.
Snowden admitted after the race that the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich was set to be the major Queensland Winter Racing Carnival for Snippets Land, but he thought that the BRC Sprint was a nice race for the gelding and gave him the opportunity to record a maiden win at Group level.
“It was a super effort,” Snowden said.
“Full credit to the horse, he did a great job.
“He is no superstar, but he is very genuine and he put his best foot forward today for one of his best wins.
“This was his grand final.
“He wasn’t going to run here, he was going to run in a month’s time in the Eye Liner at Ipswich, but I threw a nom in just to look at the weights and I thought that we looked a chance on paper.
“It worked out perfect.”
Religify led at everywhere but the winning post and maintained his consistent form with another second place finish, while easing favourite Artlee was slightly disappointing in third.
