Snowden the stallion maker returns home to breeding heartland
Missile Mantra, Reelem In Ruby and Jen Rules represent Peter and Paul Snowden in the Dark Jewel Classic
Peter Snowden returns to his hometown Scone today with three key runners in the Dark Jewel Classic (Gr 3, 1400m).
He and son Paul will saddle Jen Rules (Redoute’s Choice), Missile Mantra (Smart Missile) and Reelem In Ruby (Pierro), with the latter two raced by Triple Crown Syndications.
“Missile Mantra is Group 1 placed and a Group 3 winner and she’s performing very well at the moment so we have brought her up to Scone and hopefully that form continues today.” said Triple Crown Syndications director Michael Ward.
“Reelem In Ruby is a very consistent type of mare and performed very well this preparation without winning, but with a good draw she should be able to get a good run and be strong in the finish.”
Snowden Racing and Triple Crown have teamed up for enormous success during the past seven years, with two-time Everest (1200m) winner Redzel (Snitzel) the highlight of their enduring partnership.
Ward reflects fondly on the enormity of Redzel’s achievements and credits the crucial role the father-son team played in the horse’s brilliant career.
“He was incredibly well managed by Peter and Paul. To achieve what he did is no easy feat,” said Ward.
“Peter is often referred to as a grand final trainer and the experience he has you can’t buy. He has horses peaking on the right days to enable you to get good results.
“He’s a gentleman, a humble man and somebody that you can work with, engage with and work with in partnership. You need to do that in this game to get results.
“It revolves around teamwork. As long as you have a good team working together that’s when results flow, and you can do that with Peter.”
Ward is hoping the Snowdens can work similar magic, not only today with Reelem in Ruby and Missile Mantra, but also with tomorrow’s Inglis 3YO Guineas (RL, 1400m) contender Exoboom (Exosphere), who he believes could be Triple Crown’s best horse since Redzel who was retired last April.
“He’s a very promising horse and finished no worse than second in his seven starts, so the sky’s the limit at this stage. We don’t know where his mark will be but he’s certainly on an upward trajectory.
“It’s hard to tell because he’s so lightly raced, but everything he does suggests he has well above-average ability.”
Exoboom was impressive when winning the Hawkesbury Guineas (Gr 3, 1600m) last start, so all the positive signs are there to suggest Ward’s high opinion of the gelding will be vindicated.
Triple Crown’s success with Snowden Racing has been with geldings, fillies and mares, but Ward, whose core business is not focussed on sourcing and racing future stallions, acknowledged their incredible knack with colts.
“I think the record speaks for itself. He really is a stallion–making trainer and you have to respect him for that,” he said.
Today, Peter Snowden returns to Scone, the centre of Australia’s thoroughbred breeding heartland, where his ability of being able to get the very best out of valuable colts holds significant meaning to major stud farms there.
During the recent Sydney autumn racing carnival, that unique skill was evident when he pulled off a herculean training effort to win the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) with Captivant and bring up a milestone first Group 1 winner on the racetrack for his sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon), who they also trained.
Peter, along with the colt’s ownership group, Newgate Farm and the China Horse Club, smartly decided to bring Captivant back from a week’s rest in the paddock to contest the race after it was confirmed a prime rival, Anamoe (Street Boss), would not be running.
“I’m not sure of the strategy but I will take it if you think it was a masterstroke,” laughed Snowden.
“When we found out he (Anamoe) wasn’t going to run, Henry (Field) said ‘do you reckon you can get him in and get him ready?’
“We brought him in to see how he was and galloped him on Tuesday and he worked terrific and thought we are good to roll the dice.”
The gamble paid off, with Captivant adding an all-important Group 1 to his CV, assuring himself a future alongside his father Capitalist on Newgate’s stallion roster.
“It was the first Group 1 winner for Capitalist so that gave us a big kick. They become part of your family and to see their sons and daughters go on, it gives a good feeling,” said Snowden.
Capitalist has enjoyed an extraordinary first season on the racetrack and Snowden, who knows the horse just about better than anyone, said he’s not remotely surprised.
“He’s done a superb job. So far, his yearlings are racing and selling very well and he’s been a big asset to Newgate,” said Snowden.
“They are very precocious and quite strong, in fact, they are stronger than him at that age and they have kind attitudes which helps them get there early.”
Capitalist is the most recent major success at stud that Snowden has had a hand in producing and he distinctly recalls what a pleasure the 2016 Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner was to train.
“He was absolutely brilliant. When I think back through all the good colts we’ve had, they were really good natured horses that came to hand really quickly and put their hand up and did whatever you wanted them to do,” he said.
“They were good eaters and sound and ticked all those boxes and that’s why they got to the level they did.”
Capitalist carried the racing colours of James Harron Bloodstock, who paid credit to Snowden’s good management of the horse.
“Capitalist was part of the first year of our colt partnership, and given Peter and Paul’s success at producing future stallions, they were a natural fit for a project which seeks to produce such horses,” said Harron.
“The journey with Capitalist was just incredible, from his very first start Peter and Paul had him beautifully trained and educated and he demonstrated that in sensational style on the racetrack.
“He was a horse who had a very busy schedule as a juvenile, and never spent longer than a fortnight in the paddock, so required expert handling and training to have him cherry ripe for the big races, which Peter and Paul handled incredibly well.”
Snowden’s patience and attention to detail has majorly contributed to a long list of colts, including Pride Of Dubai (Street Cry), King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice), Epaulette (Commands), Helmet (Exceed And Excel) and Sepoy (Elusive Quality), who were able to remain intact and go on to become stallions.
“There’s pressure with it but I put it behind me and do the best for the horses at the time,” said Snowden.
“I treat them all as though they are the same price, that’s my motto. I don’t do more if they cost more or less if they cost less. I treat them all as individuals and let them tell me how much ability they have.
“By living and working with them every day, I watch them closely and how they are handling their work and feed. It’s those little one percenters that are important to know how much you can push them.”
He admits there is plenty of luck involved too.
“First and foremost, I have been lucky to be given the horses to work with and have as many well–bred horses as we have had. But, it doesn’t always work out. Sometimes it’s diamonds and sometimes it’s dust,” he said.
“Pedigree is a big thing but it comes down to the horse really. If they have ability and temperament to go with it, you will get a result, but one without the other doesn’t work, they have to have both.”
Whilst working with colts is a real forte of his, Snowden says he also enjoys training horses that are not always destined for stud duties.
“I enjoy getting horses for longevity. We have a big turnover of two-year-olds but after 18 months they are gone so I enjoy getting old horses,” he said.
“Those two-year-olds have put us on the map, but I still enjoy getting older horses to carnivals.”
As a gelding, there is no risk of tomorrow’s Inglis Guineas hopeful Exoboom being rushed off to stud anytime soon.
The exciting three-year-old could deliver the Snowdens their fourth victory in the race and looks certain to be the type of horse that will fly the flag for Snowden Racing and Triple Crown Syndications at carnivals well into the future.