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Snowden stable happy with son of Foostepsinthesand and McEvoy is confident of an improved run from Savatoxl

European import I Am Superman (Footstepsinthesand) is in his third campaign with Peter and Paul Snowden and the training partners believe they have unravelled the key to the talented sprinter-miler. 

In what might appear to be an unconventional preparation, I Am Superman will tackle Saturday's Stradbroke Handicap (Gr 1, 1400m) at Eagle Farm off a seven-week break between runs. 

Peter Snowden says keeping the horse physically and mentally fresh will give him his best chance at Group 1 success.  

"This is the perfect preparation," Snowden said. 

"He ran in the (All Aged Stakes) then had four days off and has been back in work ever since. 

"He's had a trial two weeks ago. He's in good order and he's a really good horse fresh." 

I Am Superman won the Ajax Stakes (Gr 2, 1500m)  at Rosehill in March and while he beat just one rival home in the All Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), he finished less than four lengths from the winner. 

The entire has twice been through the sales ring having been bought for €20,000 at the 2016 Goffs November Foal Sale by Danesrath Stables before being bought by former trainer Michael O’Callaghan for €49,000 at the following year’s Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale. 

The son of Footstepsinthesand won three of his ten starts in Ireland and placed at Group 3 level before coming to Australia. 

He has drawn well in barrier three while his Waratah Bloodstock-owned stablemate, Signore Fox (Exceed And Excel), will jump from gate 16 if the remaining two emergencies don't gain a start. 

Signore Fox fleetingly looked the winner when he scooted up along the inside in the Kingsford-Smith Cup (Gr 1, 1300m) last start before finishing a close third to Vega One (Lope De Vega). 

While wary of his wide gate, Snowden is also hopeful of the chances of the son of Exceed And Excel (Danehill). 

History suggests the barrier draw is of little relevance in Brisbane's flagship race with close to half of the past 30 Stradbroke winners having drawn outside barrier ten, including Tyzone (Written Tycoon) who jumped from 16 last year.  

"Outside of ten and under ten are very even so you can win from wide gates," Snowden said. 

Meanwhile, the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained The Goodwood (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Savatoxl (Kuroshio) has continued to thrive in Queensland Saturday’s race. 

His trainer is confident that he has recovered from a less than ideal run in the Kingsford-Smith Cup when he finished sixth and the ride saw his jockey, Barend Vorster, suspended for ten days.

"He's really good,'' McEvoy said of Savatoxl on racing.com.

"He's trained on well, had one sharp bit of work a few days ago and we're hoping for a good performance again, he said.

Despite shying at the horse inside during the Kingsford-Smith Cup, McEvoy said they were more than happy with Savatoxl's latest effort. Ultimately, this led to him causing interference, before regaining momentum and picking up again on the line.

"I thought it was a good run,'' McEvoy said.

"He has a tendency to lay whichever way the rail is, he was probably a bit lost and has been doing all his work on that leg.

"It was messy, but a good run still,'' he said.

The main obstacle for Savatoxl is a sticky barrier, drawn in 13, given the horse only knows one way and that is to search for the rail early in his races.

"He loves the rail.

"He's pretty one dimensional, he's not a horse you can really hold up,'' McEvoy said.

"So Barend will just come out on him and work it out,'' he said.

Savatoxl is one of the outsiders at $31 with tab.com.au in an open feature. Vega One holds favouritism at $5.50.