Snowden duo seek to emulate sire in Magic Millions 2YO Classic
Randwick-based trainer to send pair of runners to both $3 million features at the rescheduled Gold Coast extravaganza under the lights
Peter Snowden will have a quality four-strong team compete across both the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) and Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (RL, 1400m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night as the multiple Group 1-winning trainer bids to get his hands back on both trophies.
A notable premier trainer of young racehorses, Snowden captured the $3 million Classic with subsequent Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Capitalist (Written Tycoon) in 2016 and now brings a pair of the star colt’s offspring into this year’s renewal.
Leading the way at the head of the betting in the juvenile feature is Memo ($6), a daughter of the now Newgate Farm-based stallion who ran third in the Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) behind Bel Merci (Extreme Choice) on debut before a runner-up effort behind O’ Ole (Ole Kirk), who reopposes on Friday, in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1100m).
The promising filly’s latest start saw her again run third, this time behind Gallo Nero (Wootton Bassett), another who will be in opposition on Friday, in an 1100-metre handicap at Randwick.
As well as those three placed efforts, Memo has a pair of winning trial performances to her name and Snowden feels the filly could make the breakthrough in competitive action on Friday evening with a little bit of luck.
“She’s in good order and fine. She’s got a good gate [one] and we’re hoping she can be a bit more lucky,” the trainer told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“She’s had a bit of bad luck in her runs to date so we’re hoping it can be on her side tomorrow [Friday]. She’s small, strong and athletic, and also has a great temperament.”
Purchased out of Newgate Farm by Snowden Racing for $350,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions sale, Memo is the only foal to race from three out of the Group 3-placed multiple winner Notation (Fastnet Rock), herself out of the South African Grade 1 scorer Chocolicious (Kahal).
Joining Memo in the Classic will be Quietly Arrogant, a son of Capitalist who looked to be well-named following his latest start where he dominated the finish to land the Aquis Gold Nugget 2YO (1100m) by 1.2 lengths over Torque To Be Sure (Shamus Award).
The colt had shown plenty of previous promise with a second-placing in an 850-metre barrier trial at Randwick-Kensington and a fourth-place effort on his debut at Randwick on December 21, with both of those runs coming behind $10 Golden Slipper favourite Pallaton (Wootton Bassett).
“It was a good run from him [last-start] and it’s probably done him a favour not backing up a week after, a couple of weeks for him should work out ok,” Snowden said.
“The couple of starts he’s had have both been solid, with a strong win last time, and he’s drawn a nice gate [16] also as he gets back in the run so that draw should be ideal for that. He’s going there with a chance.”
A $400,000 Magic Millions purchase from Newgate Farm for China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy, Quietly Arrogant is a brother to the Group 3-placed winner Customized.
He is the third winner from as many to race out of the winning Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) mare Single Sapphire, who had a colt by Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) go through the ring at last week’s Magic Millions for $120,000, selling to Redfox Thoroughbreds.
Friday’s meeting at the Gold Coast is one that has been rescheduled after the abandonment of last Saturday’s original program. That card was abandoned following the third race, the Magic Millions The Debut (1000m), after a total of 41 millimetres of rainfall hit the track, and Snowden admitted the extra six days is ‘not an ideal scenario’.
“To some [horses] it doesn’t matter but to some it does, you don’t know till they run,” the trainer said.
“With the backing up now a further six days later as I say it does affect horses, it’s strange how it does, but it does.
“I guess you’ll have had your horse bang on by last Saturday and then the Sunday after it’s cancelled the tracks weren’t open [to gallop], just all that sort of stuff that you can’t do that you normally would.
“But like I said everyone is in the same boat, there will be no advantage for anyone and they’ll all be hoping their horses have come through well.
“Hopefully we’ve got them right for the day again but it’s not an ideal scenario that’s for sure.”
Despite admitting the current situation has not been ideal, Snowden did praise the Gold Coast for their decision to host the rescheduled meeting as a night card.
“They had one a few weeks ago and it was very good, it was different, but a good night and a good night’s racing,” he said.
“At the Gold Coast it was 100 per cent humidity this [Thursday] morning and that’s horrendous, so racing at night is a big plus with the horses racing in cooler weather rather than the sticky hot conditions in the day. It’s a win-win for everyone really and should work out well.”
Something that Snowden will also be hoping can work out well is the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, where he lines up both Tuileries (So You Think) and King Of Roseau (Capitalist) in a bid to land the race for the third time in the past five years, having sent out Aim (Star Witness) to win the $3 million contest in 2021 before King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) landed the race the following year.
Tuileries, who occupies favouritism in the market at $6.50, was seen once as a two-year-old when running sixth in a 1300-metre Warwick Farm maiden back in April.
Returning last month as a three-year-old, the daughter of So Yo Think (High Chaparral) has not looked back, running out a dominant three-length winner of a 1250-metre maiden at Canterbury before doubling her tally just 13 days later in a Benchmark 72 (1300m) at Randwick, again scoring in style by 2.2 lengths.
Despite winning both of those contests, coupled with the fact she heads the market, Snowden admitted Friday’s task will be on a whole new level for the filly.
“She’s in good form and she’s a nice filly that has always shaped as though she had ability,” he said.
“She’s won a maiden race and then a Benchmark 72 race so this is a lot harder, and she’s drawn the barrier [23] you get nightmares about if you look at the number.
“However, there’s nothing much you can do about it now and she does go back in her runs, she’s a relaxed filly so that helps on that front. Hopefully she gets cover somewhere in midfield and uses her turn of foot, but it’s a big ask.”
With the Gold Coast track rated a Soft 5 on Thursday, and Tuileries having only raced on tracks described as Good 4s, Snowden said he has no worries about the softer conditions.
“I think she’ll get further in time and the softish track won’t hurt her as she’s a big filly, so she should handle that ok,” the trainer said.
“She’d be one for stakes races in the future for sure and I can see her having her best times as a four and five-year-old.”
Tuileries will be joined by Capitalist colt King Of Roseau, an experienced three-year-old with ten starts under his belt, including for two placings at Listed level and a runner-up effort in the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1050m) at Doomben last May.
The colt was last seen running a respectable ninth, beaten 4.8 lengths, behind impressive winner Private Harry (Harry Angel) in the Magic Millions Sunlight Plate (1100m), his first start since October 26.
“He ran in a very good race last week, it wasn’t the right race for him but he was first-up from a freshener and when you go back through his form he’s been in some good contests,” Snowden said.
“It’s another [race] that’s very open, there’s not a standout horse in there and there’s plenty going in that have similar form lines. I’m sure it’ll be a great race.”
However, despite those placed runs, and the fact he has earned an impressive $421,530 in prize-money, King Of Roseau has just the sole win to his name, something Snowden is hoping can change on Friday.
“He’s won just short of $500,000 in prize-money so he’s done a good job for us. He’s not a top-end horse, but he’s one that has his share of ability and I feel he’s been looking for this sort of trip for a long time.
“He’s drawn a good gate [barrier 3] for a horse with a nice turn of foot and if we can get the right sort of cover and switch him off, like he did in that fast-run race at the Sunshine Coast the time before, I think he can be competitive for sure.”