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Snowdens Sending Strong Team To The Gold Coast

3 minute read

Sydney three-year-old Niccolance has been scratched from Saturday’s Magic Millions Guineas but will not lessen the strong team Randwick trainers Peter and Paul Snowden are sending to the $10 million meeting.

Denpurr
Denpurr Picture: Racing and Sports

The Snowdens decided not to include Niccolance in their Gold Coast team after he drew gate 21 when the final field was declared on Tuesday.

Despite five emergencies Niccolance would still have had to start from the widest barrier in the capacity field of 16.

The Snowdens still have fifth emergency Spending To Win in the Magic Milions Guineas and second emergency Invader in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic for two-year-olds.

Spending To Win, a last start Canterbury winner, has drawn gate 14 but has only a remote chance of gaining a start in the Guineas.

Invader, a colt with the potential to cause an upset in the MM Classic if he gains a start, has drawn gate nine.

He ran home strongly behind MM Classic favourite From Within at his second career start when resuming at Canterbury on December 31 and will be suited by a certain fast pace and step up to 1200m if scratchings give him a start.

The Snowdens won last year’s MM Classic with subsequent Golden Slipper winner Capitalist.

The stable has another 12 entries across the other six races that make up the richest single racing program in Australian racing. Some are nominated for two races they will not finalise their plans until those fields are declared on Wednesday.

Their list includes classy sprinter Dothraki (Magic Millions Sprint) and quality mares Flippant, Denpurr and Secret Trail.

All three mares are nominated for the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies and Mares (1400m) but they may be split. Flippant is also in the MM Sprint and the Snowdens intend running Secret Trail in the $1 million Magic Millions QTIS (1300m).

The Snowdens have Snippets Land, We’re Sure, Choice We Had and Hand From Above entered for the $1 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) and Ajani and Sprinting To Win in the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1200m).

Blake Shinn is set to do the bulk of the riding for the Snowdens on Saturday with the stable bullish about the first-up chances of Dothraki after an excellent barrier trial win by the six-year-old at Rosehill on December 30.

“He’s come through his trial well and looks in good order,” Peter Snowden reported.

“He’s proven before that he goes well fresh. He’s looking really well and he’s feeling well, which is normally a recipe for him to run well.”

Snowden is confident dual Sydney winner Denpurr is primed for the MM Fillies and Mares after a luckless run at Canterbury on December 31 but is relying on dry track conditions on Saturday.

“She’s a tough mare and is in good order. All we can hope for is that the skies stay dry and we get her on a good track where she can acquit herself well,” Snowden said.

Secret Trail will be well placed in the QTIS race on Saturday after having her lead-up in a Listed race at Eagle Farm on December 31.


Racing and Sports

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