Ray Hickson
Time will continue to be the friend of Peter Snowden’s trio of youngsters set to debut at Kensington on Wednesday but he’d like to think each can please him in their first outings.
The Randwick trainer is represented by Ole Kirk colt Short Sea along with geldings Baltusrol and Zourrific in the TAB Handicap (1150m) and each has their own reasons for checking in so late in the season.
Zourrific has been a classic work in progress who, based on his two recent trial wins, is starting to hit his straps.
“He had a few little issues early, he was immature, and was late getting in to be broken in,” Snowden said.
“To my eye Zoustars are better at three anyway so I wasn’t too perturbed about that.
“The first time in he went okay, the second time there was a big change in the horse. When he went out the second time we gelded him and after that he’s come back ready to go.”
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy has partnered Zourrific in his trial wins at Gosford and on the synthetic track at Randwick and will ride him first-up.
Snowden said he’s shown enough versatility to be confident he can race forward or off the speed.
“His trials have been very good. I like the horse a lot but he’s not there yet, he’s still light and immature, but he will run well,” he said.
Short Sea has a similar story, aside from remaining a colt, Snowden said there’s not a lot between him and Zourrific despite the three length margin in their trial clash.
“He’s another that was light and immature early days,” he said.
“Every time I tipped him out and brought him back he’s got bigger and stronger. His trials have been good and his work since the last trial has been good so he will be competitive.”
If there’s one to keep an eye on for the future from the trio it’d be Baltusrol who Snowden said is taking a lot more time to get used to the rigours of being a racehorse.
The gelding by Tiger Of Malay has required a good degree of correction in his time under the saddle but Snowden said he has something to work with.
“He’s a giant of a horse still working it out, he’s the greenest of the three of them,” he said.
Supplied by Racing NSW
