3 minute read
Co-trainer Peter Snowden is still trying to come to terms with the disappointing performance handed in by King’s Legacy when finishing down the track in the Caulfield Guineas.
Having filled a place with a strong finishing third in the Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill in his previous start, Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, was expecting a better result in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas on October 10.
But the son of Redoute's Choice could manage only ninth behind Ole Kirk in the 1600m 'blue riband' race and left Snowden searching for answers.
And still to this day Snowden is unable to come up with any answers.
Snowden says it was not the King's Legacy that he knows that turned up at Caulfield that day after travelling down from Sydney in perfect order.
Instead of heading to the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, King's Legacy will line up in the $1.5 million Group 1 Cantala Stakes over the same course and distance.
Both races are run on Saturday.
"We've done every test you can name," Snowden said.
"We've scoped him, we've X-rayed him, we've trotted him up, we've had bloods done and we could find nothing wrong with him.
"It is a bit of a head scratcher why. I suppose the hoodoo of Caulfield, I don't believe it, but I've got to put it down to something because I can't find nothing wrong with the horse.
"He had a trial on Thursday, he trialled excellent.
"His work this morning, Glen Boss rode him, had a feel for the horse and he feels terrific and looks really well.
"I am just going to put that run behind him and back his ability and say he is going to go into that race with a great chance on Saturday."
There has not been a large contingent of three-year-olds contest the Cantala Stakes with Seaburge one of the most recent.
"I won't say it was frustration because he was third-up in the Guineas and I won't say that he is going one too many, it is only fourth-up, so I'd like to think that his best runs are still to come," Snowden said.
"Judging by what I saw at Caulfield I'm sure there's another good one in him."
Snowden said he was considering his options with I Am Superman whether to run the entire on Saturday or keep him for a race at Sandown on November 14.
The trainer said I Am Superman was in good order.
"He won his first two starts back and his run in the Group 1 race at Caulfield (Toorak Handicap) the other day, he just got a bit too far back in the race," Snowden said.
"He is a horse who likes to engage early and to finish well.
"He had a bit of work to do on the corner and it was a flat run for him.
"But he looks great, he looks very, so I am tossing up whether to run here or at Sandown."