Peter Snowden believes the intense focus on speed has helped Australian sprinters excel at Royal Ascot in recent years and hopes it could see his speedster that Cannon beat his odds in King’s Stand Stakes (G1) on June 20.
Australia won the award five years ago with explosives Nature strip one of seven winners for the country from 41 runners at the meeting in the 20 years since Choisir’s amazing sprint double, and Snowden says sky-high prize money in races like Everest has helped industry orientation.
Team 1 multi-winner coach did Everest’s first two runs with red in 2017 and 2018 and spoke after his newest star pony flew less than five feathers as part of an international morning gallop in Ascot June 14.
“I think we focus a lot on speed,” said Snowden, who co-coaches with his son Paul. “Our 2-year-old races are worth a fortune, our ponies are worth a fortune, and we make them run six to seven miles early and then a mile .
“When they went to school after winning the Golden Sandal (G1) and Caulfield Guineas (G1), they were worth AU$50 million. That’s the kind of pressure that was put on. We weren’t thinking about winning the Melbourne Cup. G1) ) because it’s only worth AU$8 million, while the Everest is worth AU$20 million today.
“Our emphasis just goes the other way around with what you have here. You have (Two thousand) Guineas (G1) and Oaks (G1) and that’s fantastic for longevity and depth. reproduction of racing — that’s what you want to see.Our thinking is all about speed and quick profits.
“I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, but it’s the foundation on which our industry is built.”
Peter Snowden leads Cannonball off the track after exercising at Ascot . Racecourse
Snowden is still alive with the enormous task he faces as he searches for a breakout winner with Cannonball, his first-place finisher at the royal meeting, but he’s expecting an apple show daring from the 8-1 shot, who overcame his journey. walk.
“It’s great to be here,” he said. “It’s a world-famous event and racecourse. King’s Stand is a big race and the Australian has won there a couple of times, so it can be expected that he will do well, but There are no guarantees of anything in the race—we’re here to give it a good shot.
“Cannonball rose up pretty quickly. He hasn’t won group 1 yet but so have the other horses in the race, and where they are shown as seasoned horses, this guy hasn’t.
“He’s nimble and resilient and has handled the ride like it’s nothing and that will play a big part when it comes to Tuesday. It’s the first time he’s been in the truck for longer than two hours— and he’s been on a plane for 24 hours!”
Cannonball’s King’s Stand rival and Australian teammate Coolangattaa best-valued 4-1 chance, also worked on Wednesday and pleased her general coach Ciaron Maher and grandmaster James McDonald by passing the 65th-ranked So Chic.
Coolangatta was frustrated during a trial before heading to Lambourn, where she currently lives with Charlie Hills, but is said to have returned to her best and in vivacious form while attending school on the paddock with a pony .
Maher said: “She’s really thrived since coming here, she’s in a very quiet area of Lambourn so she needs a good hit to keep her. She’s been looking around but walking around. be good and stretch your shoulders skillfully.
“James said it took her quite a while to pull up and he was beaming about the job, so I’m very pleased with the horse and that’s all I wanted. The gallop goes. as smoothly as possible and she moved her lungs a little bit.”
Australian sprinter Coolangatta with coach Ciaron Maher and British groom and regular rider Anna Weatherlake
Maher, who won the Melbourne Cup with joint coach David Eustace last year and is also looking for his first winner at the meeting, agreed with Snowden’s assessment of Australia’s sprint success and self believes his two-time group 1 winner can deliver even more top tier.
He said: “80% of our races are shorter than seven feathers, while here you have the classic races. I don’t think many Australian horses have come here and been successful at distances. average cup—So you think only one person comes to mind.
“Nature Strip and Black Caviar are top sprinters. Hopefully Coolangatta gets to their level, but they’ve had more runs on the board before coming here. She’s a 2-year-old. quite immature and even as young as 3 years old at home With what she has done, I think this is a good opportunity.
“I saw the Frankie Dettori documentary on the plane yesterday and he said it’s probably the biggest race in the world, and to win it here would be amazing. We had it. A very good season at home and this is going to be the best thing.” on cake.”
