Snowden Racing | Snowden Racing News 60308 Snowden Downsizes Stable And Puts A Focus On Quality Over Quantity
Snowden downsizes stable and puts a focus on quality over quantity
Thu, Aug 29, 2024
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.”
