3 minute read

Snoopy can hit the ground running first up in the Clubnsw Benchmark 92 Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday.

The gelding resumes after an autumn campaign in which he was a first up winner over 1200m at Moonee Valley before then placing in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1600m).

He boasts a master Timeform rating of 108 for that outing and also wasn’t far off that figure when fourth in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) last spring.

The Lope De Vega four-year-old is unbeaten in three prior first up outings and can maintain that perfect record on Saturday.

The Team Hawkes-trained four-year-old was gelded in his latest spell which could assist in Snoopy becoming a more complete racehorse this spring.

Snoopy appears pitchforked into the Clubsnsw Benchmark 92 Handicap (1100m) with another resuming in Kangarilla Joy seemingly the lone danger.

Both are Group 2 placed and come in well first up at the weights against their older counterparts.

Zaunkonig shapes as an each way play early in the program contesting the St Johns Park Bowling Club Handicap (1500m).

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained entire kicked off his campaign with consecutive wins at Kembla Grange.

He then stepped up in grade when sticking on bravely for a fifth at this course over 1400m.

The son of Northern Meteor was trapped wide on speed last start and was entitled to weaken out of things following a less than ideal run in transit.

Zaunkonig to his credit fought on bravely though and wasn’t beaten far.

The lightly-raced type should be at his peak fourth run from a spell and now has Blake Shinn engaged.

He will need favours again from an outside draw however if able to cross without too much hassle, he can be in it for a long way.

Sydney Specials: Rosehill – August 13

Best Of The Day: R8; #12 Snoopy @ $4.00

Each Way Play: R4; #10 Zaunkonig @ $7.50