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An early season stakes raid is on the cards for well bred youngster King Of Sparta if he reacts as the Snowden stable hopes to being gelded after a frustrating first four starts.
You'd think it would be a tough decision to geld a $700,000 colt by I Am Invincible but co-trainer Snowden said during his first campaign earlier this year it became clear he wasn't going to realise his potential if he remained a colt.
King Of Sparta has excited Snowden with his work and trials since being gelded so there's some expectation on him in the Harry Angel @ Darley Plate (1150m) at Kensington on Wednesday.
"He wasn't running two races the same and started thinking about things,'' Snowden said.
"The last start especially, he loomed up beside the leader and was happy to stay there. When they start doing those things you have no choice.
"Since he's been gelded he's a more responsive horse. He had a tendency of going too hard, he's more relaxed about his job and his trials have been good and his work great."
On debut King Of Sparta was narrowly beaten by Hilal, subsequently Group 1 placed in the autumn, and ran fourth in the Group 2 Silver Slipper and Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes.
While his future is now as a racehorse the plan the Snowdens have in mind somewhat mirrors what Team Hawkes did with North Pacific a year ago.
North Pacific won his first race on July 11, won a Group 3 at his next start and wound up with a close second in the Group 1 Golden Rose. Snowden said the plan for King Of Sparta is to have two starts before jumping back into stakes company.
That task is likely to be either the Listed Rosebud (1100m) on August 7 or the Group 3 Up & Coming Stakes (1300m), coincidentally the race won by North Pacific, a week later.
"He's come in to be ready early,'' Snowden said.
"There's some good stakes races coming up in early August so if we can have a couple of runs under the belt when they come around it isn't always about the best horse but the fittest horse."
King Of Sparta, $2.70 favourite with TAB on Tuesday, has won two barrier trials leading into his return and Snowden said they've been in stark contrast to anything he was doing as a colt.
"The best part about it is he's been dropping his mates and racing away from them, he wasn't doing that as a colt so hopefully it has worked and hopefully we see it on Wednesday,'' he said.
"He's trialled like he's been working, that's been pleasing for us to see. He's drawn a decent barrier for a change so he should get a nice run."
Consistent mare My Demetra resumes in the Heineken Handicap (1300m) and Snowden expects her to run a cheeky race first-up but her best form should be later on in the prep.
She missed a place for the first time when first-up last preparation but has done enough in two trials to say she can be competitive.
"She's an honest mare and likes soft ground,'' Snowden said.
"She gets better when she gets out over further as we found out last prep, but she's going well enough to suggest fresh she can run well."
Both Ranges and Yangarra Rose will have their chance in the Vinery Stud Handicap (1150m) with Snowden finding it hard to split the pair.
Ranges chased home a promising type in Eight Diamonds at Canterbury two weeks ago while Yangarra Rose was an easy winner on a heavy track at Kembla Grange four days earlier.
"We scratched (Yangarra Rose) because of the draw on Saturday, she should get a nice run off the speed,'' he said.
"She settles better behind horses, whenever she gets outside leader she overdoes it as was the case at Warwick Farm.
"Ranges is in good form, that 3kg off helps him. Take the winner out last time and it would have been a good gutsy win, he has one of these races in him it's just a matter of finding the right one."
