3 minute read
Paul Snowden was a Melbourne resident for more than five years, but it hasn’t taken him long to settle back into life in Sydney.
In Melbourne to tackle Saturday’s BECK Caulfield Guineas with Shooting To Win, just a few months after relocating to his hometown to team up with his father Peter in a training partnership, Snowden said he was given an early reminder of what life was like as a trainer in Victoria.
“It’s bloody cold and I haven’t missed that,” Snowden said, chuckling, when asked whether he missed Melbourne.
“But it’s great to be back and especially with a good Caulfield Guineas chance like this.”
Snowden is happy to put up with some chilly mornings for the sake of another crack at the $1 million Group 1 Guineas, a race he knows what it takes to win.
Snowden was the Melbourne foreman for his father during his stint as head trainer of Sheikh Mohammed’s Australian racing operation, during which time they had an outstanding Guineas record.
They were twice successful, with Helmet (2011) and Long John (last year), and also finished third behind superstars All Too Hard and Pierro with Epaulette in 2012.
Snowden said he and his father felt honoured to be have been entrusted with responsibility for Shooting To Win, who was previously trained by John O’Shea and was transferred over when O’Shea replaced Snowden as Sheikh Mohammed’s head trainer in May.
“Hopefully we can do the right thing by the owners and get a result,” he said.
Shooting To Win booked his Guineas spot with a victory in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on 27 September, which followed a third placing in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m).
Snowden said connections had always hoped the Northern Meteor colt would get to the Guineas and was pleased to see him frank the big opinion the training partners had of him in his Sydney runs.
“You’ve got to earn your stripes for a race like this, you just don’t throw them in and hope for the best, but he’s always had a great deal of ability," Snowden said.
“Hopefully he just shows what he can do on Saturday.”
The Guineas will be Shooting To Win’s first start the Melbourne way of going, but Snowden said he was well practised working left-handed.
“After the Stan Fox we started working him the Melbourne way up in Sydney and he’s had two gallops and he came down here over the weekend,” he said.
“Hasn’t faltered in his action, he’s been on his right leg ever since he’s been going the reverse way and we’re tickled pink with him.”
Shooting To Win, who will jump from barrier eight with James McDonald to ride, has been one of the best-backed runners to upset the $2.25 favourite Rich Enuff this week and now holds down the $7 second line in TAB’s market.
