Team Snowden take Oakleigh Plate gamble
The Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield is one of the toughest sprint races run in Australia with the pressure on from the outset.
The 1100m Group 1 sprint on Saturday is a race Peter and Paul Snowden have won previously with Russian Revolution and the Sydney trainers are back again with three-year-old King’s Gambit.
The Oakleigh Plate has been the long-range target for King’s Gambit this campaign as the colt chases a first Group 1 win.
And Jamie Kah made a long-range commitment to ride the colt at 50kg on Saturday and has part of her getting to know King’s Gambit she has flown to Sydney on two occasions to ride the three-year-old in preparatory trials.
Peter Snowden said the tough 1100m contest should suit King’s Gambit on Saturday.
“I think the Oakleigh Plate is the right race for him,” Snowden said.
“The 1100 metres at Caulfield, he’s been there before, he’s won there before.
“It’s a high-pressure race, plenty of speed and he likes fast run races.
“He settles better when the speed is on, and I think in my mind it maps well for him.”
King’s Gambit has won two of his six starts with a further four minor placings, but Snowden said the best is yet to be seen of the colt.
“He’s a very smart horse and no-one has seen the best of him yet,” Snowden said.
“He beat Ozzmosis quite comfortably before he won the Coolmore Stakes (at Flemington), then unfortunately, we got a temperature the day before (the Coolmore) and had to pull him out.
“He gets his chance to redeem himself on Saturday and there’s a stack of good races around for him after that.”
Snowden indicated he was wary of running King’s Gambit again up the straight at Flemington, although he admitted things did not pan out when defeated at his only appearance at the track last September.
For that reason, Snowden is not ruling out a start in the Newmarket Handicap, although there are suitable races back in Sydney for the colt.
“His only run down the straight he was a nightmare, but he was first-up and they didn’t go hard, and he did everything back the front,” Snowden said.
“He’s a bit more mature now, so I would never say never, but we’ll worry about all that after the Oakleigh Plate.
“The Newmarket is an option, but so too are races like the T J Smith and The Galaxy in Sydney.”
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...