By Ray Hickson
Experience is invaluable when it comes to early two-year-old races and co-trainer Peter Snowden says that will help Divine Glory in her quest to post a first career win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The Peter and Paul Snowden stable has hit the ground running this season with its two-year-olds, winning the Breeders’ Plate with Empire Of Japan and the Debutant Stakes in Melbourne with King’s Gambit over the past two weekends.
Peter and Paul Snowden have two chances in the Fujitsu General Plate at Warwick Farm.Credit:Getty
And the father and son partnership looms large over the Fujitsu General Plate (1000m) with Divine Glory, off a placing in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes, and the unraced Her Excellency.
Peter Snowden said the fact Divine Glory has been to the races already is a big advantage.
“The good ones will win if they are really good but if you do everything right that’s a big plus,” he said.
“It’s so important. She tracked really true the other day and having that knowledge behind her helps.
“I thought her run was terrific, she’s very genuine and she tries very hard.”
Divine Glory settled around fifth in the run between horses in the Gimcrack and after being a touch flat-footed early in the straight she was strong on the line to run into third behind Platinum Jubilee.
While Snowden isn’t talking Golden Gifts or Golden Slippers with her just yet he feels she’s the horse to beat on Wednesday.
“She jumps and races on the speed, I don’t think she is A-grade but she does things right and handles the wet ground so that should help her a lot,” he said.
“It’s the right way to go with her, trying to get a win with her and it looks like a nice race.”
Her Excellency produced an eye-catching trial win at Rosehill last week and Snowden said the Deep Field filly will improve with time on whatever she does first-up.
Importantly, he’s confident she will handle the heavy ground despite her trial win being on a good surface.
“She’s a nice little filly, still a bit immature and the plan is to give her one run and tip her out,” he said.
“Off the draw she will give herself every chance, she seems to get through the going quite well too.”
Best Bets: Race 5 (8) Hollywood North; Race 9 (14) Way To The Stars
Best value: Race 4 (8) Essential Sky
