News

15

Apr 2025

Akaysha - One To Watch

The juvenile maiden at Kembla on Tuesday was an intriguing affair featuring a number of well-bred colts on debut, but the winner was a stylish first starter filly by Capitalist that broke 56 seconds for her debut win. The Peter Snowden-trained Akaysha was easy in the market despite good efforts at her two most recent trials, but with high expectations on some of the colts engaged, punters did not expect her to win. Given a quiet ride by Tom Sherry in a fast run race, Akaysha worked into the clear and accelerated well to hit the front and held off the late finish of stablemate Beadman to win by a long neck in 55.86 seconds, which is not far off the course record of 55.58 seconds Akaysha is a home bred for David Baxter’s Macquarie Stud and is a full sister to stakes-winner Ka Bling and half-sister to the dam of stakes-winner Brudenell being the sixth winner from eight foals to race from Group III winner Zingaling. Also bred and raced by Macquarie Stud, Zingaling has not had a foal since Akaysha. Akaysha is the tenth two-year-old winner this season for Capitalist, who has sired stakes-winning juveniles in Australia and New Zealand this year in Memo and To Cap It All. Copy: Breednet

15

Mar 2025

Memo ‘Australia’s Best Maiden’ No More

With $600,000 in the bank and four placings from her first five starts Capitalist filly Memo was ‘Australia’s best maiden’ until she went to Rosehill on Saturday where she kicked the bridesmaid tag to the kerb with a late charging win in the $250,000 ATC Magic Night Stakes (1200m). Trained by Peter Snowden, Memo was up and going to win at the official two year-old trials last spring and has been kept going ever since with a summer campaign for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in which she ran second to O’ Ole. She finished out of the placings for the first time when eighth to Within the Law in the Group III ATC Sweet Embrace Stakes, but was able to turn that form around with a withering finishing burst. Memo enjoyed a sweet run in transit back in the field on the fence and when angled into clear running she hit top gear as the widest runner and zoomed past her rivals to win by half a length for Kerrin McEvoy and has now won over $750,000 in prizemoney. Peter Snowden is not only the trainer, but also a part-owner and is not keen to back up in the Golden Slipper. “It’s unlikely she will run. She’s had a long preparation and the Percy Sykes (G2) might be more her go,” he said. “To my mind, it’s a very hot day and to try and back up a filly that has had a long prep like that might be a bridge too far. “If we go to the Percy Sykes she could have three or four days in the paddock and bring her back in. She’s held good condition and is a very fit filly. We’ve just got to get her mindset right as that’s a hard race to win and I’m not taking it lightly, but she’s a damn good filly.” Foaled and raised at Newgate, Memo was a $350,000 Magic Millions purchase for her trainer and runs for an ownership group that includes her breeders Love Racing. She is the second foal and first winner for Group III placed Fastnet Rock mare Notation, a daughter of South African Group I winner Chocolicious (SAfr). Newgate sold a Stay Inside colt from Notation at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $380,000 to Yulong and she was covered by Capitalist last spring after having the previous year off. Memo is the 23rd stakes-winner for Newgate Farm’s Capitalist, who won the Golden Slipper in 2016 and was also trained by Peter Snowden.Copy: Breednet, Images: Georgia Young Photogtaphy

25

Feb 2025

Amreekiyah - One to Watch From Kembla

Promising debut winner at Kembla on Tuesday in the Emirates Park colours is Justify (USA) filly Amreekiyah, who has a half-sister by Home Affairs to be offered at Inglis Easter. Trained by Peter Snowden and ridden by Braith Nock, Amreekiyah has been handled patiently and was unsighted at two, but showed nice ability in two trials this year. She was allowed to find her feet in the run and let down with a surging finish to power home and win the 1300m maiden by a neck doing her best work on the line. A $420,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft, Amreekiyah runs for Emirates Park and various Snowden stable clients. She is a half-sister to Group II winner Yaletown and is the second winner from multiple Group placed stakes-winner Marianne (NZ), a Darci Brahma mare from the family of recent stakes-winner Prairie Flower. Coolmore sold a full sister to Amreekiyah at Inglis Easter last year for $800,000 and will offer her yearling half-sister by Home Affairs as agent for Morning Rise Stud this year as Lot 50. Marianne produced another filly by Justify last spring and was then covered by Wootton Bassett (GB).Copy: Breednet

25

Oct 2024

Snowden stacks the bases in Brian Crowley

High Octane headlines Peter Snowden’s three-strong contingent for the Brian Crowley Stakes. The Brian Crowley Stakes will be a pivotal assignment for talented colt High Octane and trainer Peter Snowden is putting him on notice to perform. Snowden is certain the Blue Diamond Preview winner is the class horse of the race and he is hoping an outside gate gives the three-year-old the chance to prove it. Resuming with an encouraging third to Gatsby's in The Rosebud (1100m) in August when he had to thread between runners, High Octane had a hit-and-run trip to Melbourne where he finished fourth to Growing Empire in the Poseidon Stakes (1100m). He again found himself in among rivals from a rails draw when finishing sixth in Group company last start and from the outside alley at Randwick, Snowden wants to see him rediscover his best form. "It is D-Day for him, especially with this ownership group (Newgate stallions syndicate). They don't muck around too long with them, and he got the warning sign last start so he's got to perform on Saturday," Snowden said. "But it looks like a good race for him. I think he is the best horse in the race and he has been racing without a lot of luck. "He gets a good rider on board (Joao Moreira) and drawn seven is a plus for him because he doesn't like being buried away inside of horses. "He should be able to get clear air here and get to the outside. I think you'll see a better performance from him on Saturday." Snowden is also looking for the usually consistent King Of Roseau to lift in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) after he over-raced when down the track in the Tapp-Craig (1400m) last start. Winkers come off the colt and Snowden is hoping that performance was an anomaly. "He was disappointing the other day but he over-raced badly and he has never done that," he said. "It was a slow-run race, seven-furlongs, and he got posted three-deep and just saw clean air and took off. He pulled way too hard and he was a shot duck on the corner. "I am wiping that race out of my mind. "If he gets cover and gets back to his old form, he is certainly capable of winning. He just needs to do things right again." The lightly raced Manos rounds out Snowden's team after a stylish maiden win at Warwick Farm earlier this month. "It's a big jump from maiden class to that class but the good alley should give him a soft run and he does have ability," Snowden said. "He is not without a sneaky chance, but High Octane is definitely my top pick in the race." Snowden is also looking for another bold run from Coco Jamboo in the $2 million The Invitation (1400m) after her luckless first-up fourth behind favourite Olentia in The Nivison (1200m). "It's a good field, Grahame Begg's horse (Magic Time) is probably the class horse in the race and the one to beat, but I'm happy with her and I was rapt with her first-up run," he said. "She is very genuine. She puts in and she stays in and tries really hard. She is tough as nails."

1

Oct 2024

Generation Next: 'Work hard, apply yourself, and surround yourself with the best people'

Hard work and patience are key ingredients to progressing in the thoroughbred industry, and Colum McCullagh, climbing from a stud gardener to racing and bloodstock manager for Peter Snowden, has them both in spades. Growing up in County Meath, Ireland, McCullagh’s earliest memories of the thoroughbred industry consist of regular trips to the local jumps racing yard with his father. “My dad had a couple of point-to-pointers - slow ones, mind you,” McCullagh told TTR AusNZ. “I used to be put up on the pony, walking around the yard at that stage.” Colum McCullagh riding as a 4-year-old | Image supplied McCullagh would not pursue a career in the saddle, but he would re-engage with the industry as a late teenager when he took up a summer gardening job with Robert Byrne’s Platinum Bloodstock. His employment coincided with the start of yearling preparation, and it wasn’t long before McCullagh found himself holding the end of a leadrope. “I learned the ropes there (Platinum Bloodstock) on horse husbandry and how to handle them properly,” said McCullagh. “It was quite clear to me early on that I caught the bug and I (have) never looked back.” After finishing school, McCullagh spent a year working full time for Platinum Bloodstock, before moving to Kildangan Stud, the Irish base of Darley Europe. He would work the breeding season, summer in New York working in construction for his brother-in-law, then return for the breaking-in season in the autumn. Colum McCullagh whilst at the Irish National Stud in 2015 After three years with Darley, McCullagh applied for the revered Irish National Stud thoroughbred breeding management course. “That was a really good jump start,” said McCullagh, who was part of the 2015 intake. “It’s obviously a very well-renowned course, and it gave me a foundation for what way I wanted to go and how to get there.” McCullagh added polish to his resume for the rest of that year with sales work and breaking in yearlings, and it would be in that winter, while working for Moyglare Stud in County Kildare, that he would be inspired to make an international move. “It was December in the cold depths of winter in Ireland and we were lunging yearlings,” reminisced McCullagh. “It was hammering down with rain, the wind was howling, it was freezing cold, and I said, I (have) got to go somewhere warmer.” A warm Australian welcome Landing in Australia soon after, McCullagh headed straight to the Hunter Valley to work for Arrowfield Stud. “(Arrowfield) is a household name in the Australian breeding industry,” he said. “I got to do a bit of everything there, I’ll always be thankful to the Messaras for giving me that opportunity.” In June of 2016, he was introduced to Warwick Farm’s resident multiple Group 1-winning trainer Matthew Smith, which would lead to his first proper exposure to the Australian racing industry. Matthew Smith | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan “Thankfully he (Matthew Smith) saw some sort of spark in me, and offered me a role,” said McCullagh, who became Smith’s racing manager for the next two and a half years. Smith had never had a racing manager before, and McCullagh described working together with him to figure out how that role could best serve Smith’s successful training business. “I had some great guidance from him, and also Melissa (Smith), who is really the backbone of the business. They gave me a fantastic grounding on the racing side of things.” McCullagh continued, “Matt is very good with a stayer, (and) he really has a knack with older mares.” Shining examples of Smith’s success have been Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow) and Nimalee (So You Think {NZ}), who were both 5-year-olds when victorious at the highest level. “He’s grown that business a lot since I left and he’s got no bigger supporter than me, it’s great to see him doing so well,” added McCullagh. “We were lucky enough to have Fierce Impact in the stable when I was there, and then I left and he won two Group 1s, which I missed out on!” Fierce Impact (Jpn) | Standing at Leneva Park Stud Imported to Australia in late 2017, Fierce Impact (Jpn) retired to stud with three top-flight victories to his name, capped by the G1 Makybe Diva S. His oldest progeny appeared at the yearling sales earlier this year, landing in the stables of renowned judges Lindsay Park, Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, and Michael Freedman. New connections In early 2019, McCullagh made the move to Randwick and took on the role of racing manager for Peter and Paul Snowden. “The role I have now is very open, it can change a lot,” McCullagh said, who has expanded this role in the last five years to cover bloodstock interests as well. “It (has given) me that opportunity to learn from the best, from the racing side of things, but also the bloodstock, buying, selling, trading side of things. I’ve been lucky that I’ve learned from the best in both dimensions.” An exciting aspect has been helping the client base expand, and exploring new avenues, including tapping into the import market. “Bloodstock has always been a love of mine,” McCullagh continued. “When I went to the Snowdens, they never really bought and syndicated yearlings and imports, (but) since I’ve been there, we’ve made a huge kick in the market, and we’ve had great success doing it. There’s a huge appetite for the staying races and the prizemoney.” High-profile Northern Hemisphere acquisitions in recent years include rising star Touristic (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and high flying Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}). “We selected and purchased (Huetor) from France for a very reasonable price,” said McCullagh. “He’s won two Doomben Cups now, and hopefully he can head down to Melbourne and make his presence felt this spring.” Exciting prospects With the arrival of the new racing season, attention turns to the 2-year-olds, and the first appearances of potential breed-shaping colts. “The Snowdens have always been dubbed as juvenile trainers, with their success putting colts to stud.” In his tenure with Team Snowden, McCullagh has witnessed colts such as Captivant, Cosmic Force, and Wild Ruler secure their place at stud. “We always get the support of the colt syndicates. For us, those are our high market owners.” Two new stallion prospects have emerged in the past season in Don Corleone, set to stand at Eureka Stud, and King’s Gambit, a new addition to Newgate Farm’s formidable roster. Seeing the latter win the G2 Roman Consul was a highlight of the racing season for McCullagh. “There was a lot of work put into that horse to get him where he was,” McCullagh said. “We had a very high high that day, and then we had a very low low when he popped a temp a couple of days before the Coolmore down in Melbourne but seeing him go off to stud now is obviously exciting.” The newly turned 3-year-olds offer several exciting prospects in McCullagh’s eyes, chief among them being High Octane (Deep Field) and Bodyguard (I Am Invincible). High Octane Bodyguard On Bodyguard, “he's probably one of the best-looking horses you've ever seen, and he's back in great shape, hopefully he's in for an exciting spring.” Bodyguard has yet to step out in the new racing season, but High Octane was mostly recently seen bolting home after Group 3 winner Kibou (Maurice {Jpn}) in a Randwick trial. “Another highlight would be seeing Xidaki win the (G3) Winx Guineas,” added McCullagh. Bred and owned by Angelo 'Lucky' Pippos, Xidaki (Zoustar) was also victorious in the Listed Canberra Guineas earlier in the year. “He’s for a very special owner. It was very rewarding to get that stakes win for him, a very special moment.” Having patience McCullagh feels fortunate to be able to continue learning as the Snowden training partnership transitions back to Peter Snowden at the helm, with his son stepping back to spend time with his family. “Peter is a very hands-on trainer, always had that approach,” McCullagh said. “I learn a lot from him in terms of horse husbandry - it’s almost as if he can read horses’ minds sometimes, it’s bizarre! “I will forever be in debt for what he has taught me to date, in terms of training, business, life. He’s a fantastic mentor. Paul needs to be included in that too.” McCullagh is also appreciative of the opportunities available in the Australian industry, “if you’re willing to work hard and apply yourself, you’ll get noticed. Employers will find you.” Although he does impress the need for patience as well as work ethic. Peter Snowden and Colum McCullagh Reminiscing on a job interview with Malachy Ryan, manager of Moyglare Stud, McCullagh recalled having “the cheek” to ask for more money, “(Ryan) said don't worry, you need to not panic, money will come, and he was right. You think you want to get to the top as fast as possible, and you need to have a little bit of patience. “If you work hard, apply yourself, and - as we say - surround yourself with the best people and surround your horses with the worst horses, you'll be sure of getting a winner.”

17

Sep 2024

Snowden hopes galloper becomes cut above after decision to geld.

Trainer Peter Snowden would like to think the best is yet to come from lightly raced galloper Need Some Luck following the decision to geld the half-brother to champion sprinter Chautauqua. The four-year-old has won two of six starts and Snowden said the Vale Graham McNeice Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury on Wednesday is an opportunity to get the preparation off to a positive start. Trainer Peter Snowden.Credit:Getty “He was a bit of a thinker and hopefully, we can get him back on track and get him to a decent level,” Snowden said. “He’s always worked well and showed plenty in trials, but I don’t think he’s really lived up to it on race day. “It’d be good to see him run well first-up because he will improve again on where he’s at. “Good horses win when they are only three parts ready, you want to see them getting better all the way through.” Need Some Luck had three runs in the winter and was a winner over the Canterbury 1250m on a soft track on June 10 and went for a break after finishing third at Warwick Farm on heavy ground. Snowden believes the horse is better on good tracks so with two trials under his belt he has the right platform to perform well first-up. It was noticeable that jockey Tommy Berry asked Need Some Luck for an effort in winning his most recent trial over the 1050m and that was by design. “He’s been gelded now, so we wanted him knuckling down and putting his head down where it should be. Hopefully we see the best version of him,” Snowden said. “He’s come back in good order, his trials have been good and he’ll be a chance there. “Off that good draw I’d expect him to be running well. He can go forward, or back, depends on the tempo of the race. “He’d be midfield from the draw, he’s got a good finish and hopefully we get to see it.” Snowden has Fire Star on a seven-day back up and Mafia engaged in the Ranvet Handicap (1100m) with a decision to be made on whether both contest the race. Fire Star has won one of his nine starts and Snowden said he didn’t have the best of luck when running fifth behind Tanglewood last week and hopes a gear change turns his fortunes around. Supplied by Racing NSW

29

Aug 2024

Snowden downsizes stable and puts a focus on quality over quantity

Peter Snowden is used to overseeing big teams as a trainer, but, as his career moves into its next phase, he will concentrate on a smaller team full of quality. Snowden split from a partnership with son Paul, who is set to continue to training in his own right, at the beginning of the season after more than 1200 winners and 20 group 1 victories, and it was the right time to reassess the Randwick stable. Free-running Media World takes out the Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury in May.Credit:Getty Images The operation had ballooned to more than 120 horses in work, and Snowden decided to hand back a couple of barns to take the number down to 75 horses. “I just wanted to make it a little more manageable and focus a bit more on quality,” Snowden said. “I don’t think it will affect our numbers of winners that much, and it will just be a little easier to be hands-on, which I was anyway. “It’s hard to get staff these da,ys and with only 75 horses it means we can give them the best of care and attention with the staff we have.” Snowden started his training days at Darley, which has become Godolphin Australia. He had a massive team that produced more than 1300 winners and 29 group 1 successes. Since being a public trainer, Snowden has been the chosen destination for the bluebloods from Newgate Farm and James Harron Bloodstock, winning multiple group 1s for two of the shrewdest yearling buyers in the country. Australia’s biggest studs want to have stock in his yard. Yulong Stud trusted Snowden with $1.4 million purchase Media World, which returns in the Up And Coming Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. The Written Tycoon colt won the Clarendon Stakes before heading for a spell rather than pushing on to the Brisbane winter carnival. “When I was at Darley, I had some good winners of that race that went to Brisbane and won races, and he is up with them,” Snowden said. Peter Snowden has reduced his Randwick team to 75 horse with a focus on quality.Credit:Getty “I just gave him a bit of time, and it has worked because he put on more than 20 kilograms. He has always been an athletic type, and I think with a little maturity he’s going have a good spring.” Instead of taking on the speedsters, Media World will start his preparation at 1300m. “I thought this race would suit him because he is a horse that likes to roll at a good tempo, and at this trip he should be able to do that without too much pressure,” Snowden said. “I think he will be very strong at the end. “He could get through to a race like the Golden Rose, and he might even get out to a mile, but we are still learning about him.” Earlier, King Of Roseau resumes in the San Domenico Stakes against Gatsby’s and Storm Boy. Snowden warned not to underestimate him after he was a $41 runner-up in the Magic Millions National Classic in May. “He is definitely more of a sprinter and he doesn’t know how to run a bad race,” Snowden said. “He has been sharp at the trials and will be competitive in this grade.” Zarrose completes the Snowden team heading to Rosehill. She is chasing a hat-trick of wins in the benchmark 78 after strong finishing victories at Newcastle and Randwick. “She took a bit of working out, but she is best fresh around this trip of 1500m,” Snowden said. “If she can relax in her races, she has a wicked turn of foot, which we saw last time. “I thought she was too far back, but she stormed home late. “I would have liked to draw a barrier with her, just to be that little closer, but if you look after her in the first half of the race, she will have plenty to give late. “If she runs up to what we think at Rosehill, I think the Tibbie Plate would be a great race for her.”

23

Aug 2024

Team Snowden gearing up for September's 2-year-old trials

As we move closer to spring, The Thoroughbred Report has launched its 'Stable Tours' series, where we speak with leading stables across Australia about young thoroughbreds to watch in the coming months and the plans for their established stars. In Friday's edition we chatted to Snowden Racing's racing and bloodstock manager Colum McCullagh about horses to watch. Continuing The Thoroughbred Report’s ‘Stable Tours’ journey, TTR AusNZ caught up with Snowden Racing’s racing and bloodstock manager, Colum McCullagh, on Thursday to discuss some of the juveniles we may see step out at the official 2-year-old trials in September. McCullagh also provided updates on the plans for some of Snowden Racing’s classy 3-year-olds and the established brigade. Starting with a colt named Impact Zone (Exceed And Excel), McCullagh shared that the colt was purchased for $575,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy from the draft of Rosemont Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. “We’ve got a number of 2-year-olds coming through the stable at the moment that we are teeing up towards the official juvenile trials on the 23rd of September,” McCullagh told TTR AusNZ. “We have some nice horses for the Newgate/China Horse Club Colt Syndicate and the James Harron Colt Syndicate as well. There’s a 2-year-old colt called Impact Zone. He’s by Exceed And Excel out of a Power mare called Gift Of Power for Henry Field and the team. “He’s showing quite a bit. It’s still early days, but everything we’ve asked of him at this stage, he’s doing on his ear. So, he’s one to look forward to if he goes the right way.” Gift Of Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) won 11 races, including the G2 Wakefield Challenge S., the Listed Wellesley S., and the Listed Levin S. McCullagh added, “Another horse would be one named Caesar. He’s a Capitalist horse out of Fimatino. He’s the top-priced Capitalist this year, bought by James Harron. He’s a beautiful, athletic type of horse. “He looks to have a bit of longevity as well. He’s not your typical Capitalist; he's got a bit more leg under him and moves really well.” Caesar was an $800,000 purchase by James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership from the draft of Attunga Stud at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt is the half-brother Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}), winner of the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and G3 Breeders’ Plate. “To be fair, you don’t really know until the next couple of weeks as we start increasing their workload and open up the bonnet a little bit. But there’s a couple of horses there, and another one would be a Russian Revolution colt out of Aalto that we purchased ourselves. “He’s out of a Pierro mare. We bought him from Blue Gum Farm at the Magic Millions in January. He’s not your typical Russian Revolution. He seems to have a little bit more scope and size to him, but he moves very well.” The son of Russian Revolution is from the Pierro mare Aalto, who is a daughter of Miss Mooney Mooney (Redoute’s Choice), a winner of the Listed City of Marion and placed in the G2 Schweppes S. He was purchased by Snowden Racing from the draft of Blue Gum for $240,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. “Another one would be a Capitalist filly out of Notation. She’s one that we purchased on the Saturday night of Magic Millions. She was bred by Rob Love and the late Donna Love. She’s a beautiful filly, just very straightforward, out of a nice Fastnet Rock mare. She has a really good mindset and is very good mentally, which is going to take her a long way.” Notation won five races and was placed in the G3 Tibbie S. and finished fourth in the Listed Mona Lisa. The filly was purchased for $350,000 from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Rounding off the juveniles to watch, McCullagh said, “There’s a Russian Revolution colt out of Eiffel Tower that we bought from Vinery at the Magic Millions. His brother is a horse called Capital Delight, who is racing in Hong Kong and has won over $1.2 million in prize money.” Eiffel Tower (Stratum) is a half-sister to the Listed winner Sangria (I Am Invincible) and from the family of Manhattan Rain and Rubick. “He looks like a real up-and-running 2-year-old type. He’s very strong, very forward, and showing plenty.” McCullagh also nominated a son of So You Think (NZ) from the Encosta De Lago mare Crystal Flute, now named The Confidante. A dual winner, she is also the dam of Meritable (Snitzel), who was placed in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the G2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial S. “We purchased this So You Think colt from The Chase. Mr Teo is a very good client and has retained equity in the horse, and it’s good to have Duncan Ramage from Think Big Stud/DGR come into the horse. “It’s good to have people who raced So You Think themselves coming into a son of his. There’s a little bit of equity left in him as well, which has surprised me.” High Octane on Golden Path McCullagh indicated that he and Snowden were pleased with the first-up run of High Octane (Deep Field) in last Saturday’s Listed The Rosebud. The Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Colts and Geldings) victor finished third behind Gatsby’s (Snitzel) but was eye-catching in the run home. “He’s come through The Rosebud really well. He was definitely, if not the one, the eye-catching run out of the race. I think everyone else was kind of a little bit obvious in their runs, and there were a few disappointing ones, but High Octane gave us what we really wanted to see. "He made up a lot of ground late, and his late sectionals were also very, very good. We should see him come into full effect as we get him over a little bit further. At this stage, we’re tossing up a few different ideas with Henry Field on what way we go, but we’ll be looking to get him to the Run to the Rose and then onto the Golden Rose. “Then we’ll toss up the idea of the Caulfield Guineas. If he’s looking for the mile and he’s strong over the seven furlongs in the Golden Rose, it’s a possibility. We always felt he’d have the pace for the Roman Consul and the Coolmore, but he’s probably showing now, as he’s starting to get really fit, that he’s more looking for that 1400 metres and maybe even a mile trip.” McCullagh also shared that last Saturday’s G3 Quezette S. winner, Drifting (Zousain), has come through her run well and is likely to return to Sydney for the G2 Furious S. “She’s a very brilliant filly. Drifting has very good tactical speed. Her sectionals first-up down in Melbourne in the Quezette S. were through the roof. She has shown she can do it from behind and from the front. “At this stage, we’ll probably keep her over those shorter trips. She’s not a gross filly; she’s quite athletic, so you’ve got to be a little bit mindful of that, taking into account that she’s only just turned three; she’s still very young. Luckily, Drifting hadn’t been overly taxed as a 2-year-old but was brilliant for the owners and everyone that supported us in getting involved in the filly when we bought her from the sales. “It was a big thrill to get that Group 3 win as a 2-year-old in a Slipper lead-up, and luckily, we put to bed the temptation to go to the Golden Slipper with her. We’ve reaped the rewards first-up as a 3-year-old, and we’ve added to her price-tag as a broodmare now. “We’ll keep her over shorter trips. There are a couple of options down in Melbourne, but currently, we will bring her back up to Sydney and look at contesting the Furious S. next with her.” Commenting on Drifting’s versatility, McCullagh said, “For such a lightly raced young filly, she’s done a great job. She’s won a stakes race on a clockwise bend in Sydney. She’s had a run up the Flemington straight, where she’s placed in a stakes race, and now she’s won around an anticlockwise, tough track of Caulfield. “She’s added some strings to her bow.” Bodyguard a Coolmore Boy? Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) burst onto the scene by winning the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. in the spring and returned in the autumn to claim the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings). He was considered a leading contender for the G1 Blue Diamond S., but was scratched by Racing Victoria vets. “He had a little bit of an interrupted preparation when he won the Blue Diamond Prelude. He was a late scratching from the Blue Diamond on Victorian Vets' advice. He’s come back in really good order. “We’ve just been taking our time with him, and all going well, we’ll see him resume in the Danehill or the Roman Consul, and then head on through to the Coolmore Stud S.” The Yulong-raced colt, Media World (Written Tycoon), is another horse the stable holds in high regard. “He’s a Written Tycoon out of Meryl, who was raced by Francis and Christine Cook. They also bred Media World, and they have stayed in the ownership. “He won the Clarendon S. at Hawkesbury last start, and was probably just doing that on raw ability as a 2-year-old. He’s the first foal out of the mare, so he probably just lacked a little bit of physical presence, but he’s really sprouted as a 3-year-old now, and we do believe there is a good race in him.” The Snitzel filly, Sakima, a $1.25 million purchase by Snowden Racing, William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA), and Trilogy Racing from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, will resume in Saturday’s G2 Silver Shadow S. “We have Sakima racing this Saturday in the Silver Shadow. She’s going to hopefully go through the Princess Series. She’ll start in the Silver Shadow, then we’ll probably wait for the Tea Rose and hopefully get her to a Flight S. if we can.” Exciting spring ahead Several established stable stars are gearing up for an exciting spring campaign. Queen Of Dragons (Pierro), who won the G3 Kembla Grange Classic and finished fourth in the G1 Vinery Stud S., is among those preparing for the season. McCullagh shared, “She’s a full sister to Paris Dior and is raced by Trilogy Racing. She trialled super on Tuesday and will head to the Mona Lisa S. at Wyong, Sunday week, first-up.” The G2 Expressway S. and Magic Millions Carnival star, King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible), is also set for a spring campaign with an eye on returning to the Gold Coast in January. “He is back in work. He will ultimately look to do another Gold Coast assault at the Magic Millions. But between now and then, we’ve always looked at setting him up for the Sydney S. on Everest Day. It’s a $2 million race over 1200 metres and a Group 3, so right up his alley. He’ll be just kept fresh, and we will hopefully target something like that.” “He (King Of Sparta) is back in work. He will ultimately look to do another Gold Coast assault at the Magic Millions. But between now and then, we’ve always looked at setting him up for the Sydney S. on Everest Day.” - Colum McCullagh The dual G1 Doomben Cup victor, Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}), has also returned to the stable. “He’s been a revelation for the stable in terms of purchasing and syndicating imports. He’s on a Caulfield Cup path, so fingers crossed we can get him there. Huetor raced through the winter, and unfortunately, he couldn’t make it a three-peat in the Doomben Cup this time around. We’ve kicked off the northerly box, so hopefully, we can get him down south and see how we go.”Another import, Touristic (GB) (Frankel {GB}), is on a Caulfield Cup path and will resume on Saturday in the G3 Premier’s Cup. “Touristic is another horse who also races in the Francis and Christine (Cook) colours. He’s a Frankel, and he’s running this Saturday in the Premier Cup. He’s really come to hand well. He ran super in the Grafton Cup, finishing second up there. So, he’s starting to build a nice resume for himself and seems to have acclimatised this preparation. Touristic also holds a nomination for the Caulfield Cup. He needs to tick a few boxes before we look at a race like that for him, but we’ve always got to keep the door open.” The progressive import, Unspoken (Ire) (Territories {Ire}), is on an Epsom H. path. “Unspoken, our Five Diamonds winner, is hopefully going to get to an Epsom. He probably lacked a little bit of lustre in his last preparation. However, if you go back to this time last year, he was picking them off like dominoes. Hopefully, he can get back to that sort of form. We know the talent the horse has got, and he holds a nomination for the Cox Plate as well. “If he can get back to the form he was in last spring, which is quite common with these imports because they don’t race all year round in the Northern Hemisphere, so you have to take that into account as something they adapt to. They are used to having a nice, long holiday before they’re asked to perform again. All signs are showing that he has come back in good shape, and we’ll look forward to getting him to the trials next Friday (30th).” Copy: Keely Mckitterick, The Thoroughbred Report Cover Image: Ashlea Brennan

17

Aug 2024

Drifting Wins G3 Quezette

The $200,000 Group III MRC Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday drew a competitive field of up and coming fillies, but the cream rose to the top when Zousain filly Drifting carried top weight of 58kg to victory. Trained by Peter Snowden, Drifting won on debut in February and swiftly progressed into stakes company with a win in the Group III ATC Magic Night Stakes crediting her sire Zousain with his first stakes-winner. The speedy chestnut looked sharp in a recent barrier trial in Sydney and took that form to Melbourne where she led all the way for Blake Shinn and kicked on to the line to win by half a length. Best of the rest was the late closing Tasmanian filly Geegees Mistruth, who lost her undefeated tag, but showed her ability to measure up to mainland Black Type racing which is sure to delight her connections. “She’s very talented and was able to get from a maiden at Hawkesbury to where she could have run in the Golden Slipper as she won one of the lead ups to it,” said Peter Snowden. “I just like her attitude, she has really good gate speed and she’ll come back under you and go at any speed you want, then gives a good kick. They are good attributes to have and 1200m is not a problem, so there are lots of races for her and I’ll be very selective where we run her.” A $160,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Murrulla Stud for Snowden Racing / William Johnson Bloodstock, Drifting runs for a big group of happy owners including the Snowden family and has won three of five starts earning in excess of $320,000 in prizemoney. Bred by Baddock Bloodstock, Drifting is the third winner from three foals to race from Backpacker Express, a half-sister by Big Brown (USA) to Group II winning filly Downhill Racer from the family of Group II winner Schubert. Backpacker Express was bought by Murrulla Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for just $20,000, so is looking like an absolute bargain! She had a filly by Heroic Valour last spring and is now in foal to Profiteer. Murrulla Stud offered the full sister to Drifting at the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, but she passed in shy of her $100,000 reserve. Drifting is the first stakes-winner of the new season for Zoustar’s Group II winning son Zousain, who has had great support in his first four seasons at Widden Stud and is priced at $27,500 this spring.Copy: Breednet

22

Jul 2024

After Match One to Watch At Hawkesbury

A half-brother to dual Group I winner King’s Legacy, this two-year-old Zoustar colt was the easiest of winners at Hawkesbury on Sunday sporting the colours of Yulong. Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, After Match has taken a little longer to come hand than his famous sibling, who was also prepared by the Snowden’s to win both the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes. After Match was only fifth on debut at Randwick back in March in a race won by smart stakes-placed youngster Roselyn’s Star but has obviously made good progress since then and was sent out in much easier race this time. Ridden by Tommy Berry, After Match made light work of this 1100m maiden opening up to win by more than three lengths eased down.A $410,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Segenhoe draft for Yulong, After Match is the fifth winner from five foals to race from stakes-placed Hussonet (USA) mare Breakfast in Bed, a half-sister to Group I ATC Flight Stakes winner Oohood from the Singles Bar branch of the Easy Date family that produced leading sire Not a Single Doubt. Segenhoe sold a Snitzel colt from Breakfast in Bed that made $420,000 at Magic Millions this year to Ryan & Alexiou Racing Pty Ltd and she has a another Snitzel colt to follow. After Match is the 204th Australian winner of the season for Zoustar, who is running out of time to equal or better I Am Invincible’s record tally of 208 winners set in the 2020/2021 season. Copy: Breednet

21

Jul 2024

Coast Guard Scores For Snowden Racing

The most expensive yearling by Darley Stud’s Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner, Microphone, Coast Guard, was off the mark at start three in a 1500m maiden at Hawkesbury on Sunday. Ridden by Tommy Berry for Peter and Paul Snowden, Coast Guard tracked the early speed set by Sizzling Tale and Kings Castle (FR).Splinting that pair on straightening, the 2-year-old son of Microphone strode three lengths clear of his erratic stablemate Strong Trade (Written Tycoon), with the 3-year-old filly Shine Like It Does (Churchill) back in third. A $750,000 purchase for China Horse Club/Newgate/Go/Trilogy from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Coast Guard is the first foal of the Quality Road mare South Of France (USA). A US$150,000 buy for Sheamus Mills Bloodstock at the Keeneland 2019 November Breeding Stock Sale, South Of France won three races highlighted by the Listed Tepin Stakes at Aqueduct when trained by Todd Pletcher. The US import kicked another goal when her Trapeze Artist filly was knocked down to Yulong’s Highway Farm for $410,000 when consigned by Newhaven Park to the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. South Of France (USA) has a weanling filly by Stay Inside and missed last spring. Coast Guard is the third winner of the season for Microphone (Exceed And Excel), which stands for $22,000 in 2024. Copy: Breednet

17

Jul 2024

Million Dollar Snitzel Filly Sakima Breaks Maiden

On Wednesday, expensive Snitzel filly Sakima showed she learnt from her debut fifth at Canterbury in March when opening her winning account in the Drinkwise Maiden Plate (1100) for 2-year-old fillies at Randwick-Kensington. Ridden by Jason Collett for Peter and Paul Snowden, Sakima settled back near the tail of the 7-horse field. Angled out to the centre of the track, the daughter of Snizel let down impressively to defeat the game So You Think debutant Queen’s Rhapsody by a length, with the Written Tycoon filly Alinea two lengths back in third. Sakima was a $1,250,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Newgate Farm draft for Snowden Racing/William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA)/Trilogy Racing. “It was good to see her do that. She’s always promised a bit, and she is a well-related filly, and it was a good win first-up,” Peter Snowden said. “She is not the finished product. She’s from a good family, so hopefully, she can go on with it and win a good race. A half-sister to the stakes-placed winner Russian Conquest (Russian Revolution) and the US stakes-paced winner Bourbon War (Tapit), Sakima is the third winner for the top-class Artie Schiller (USA) mare My Conquestadory (USA). The winner of the Grade 1 Keeneland Alcibiades Stakes, My Conquestadory (USA) was a US$1,500,000 purchase for SF Bloodstock & Newgate Farm at the Keeneland 2016 November Breeding Stock Sale. Lime Country Thoroughbreds and Ravenswood Bloodstock teamed up to buy Russian Conquest for $580,000 from the Newgate consignment at the 2024 National Broodmare Sale. After foaling another Russian Revolution filly last spring, My Conquestadory (USA) was covered by Snitzel. Sakima is the 14th 2-year-old winner of the season for Snitzel, who trails Written Tycoon on 17.Copy: Breednet

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