‘Knockout chance’: Trainer Peter Snowden’s faith in Coco Jamboo in Group 1

Former English mare Coco Jamboo goes to the Tatt’s Tiara after winning at her Australian debut in the Hawkesbury Crown before finishing fifth to C’est Magique in the Dane Ripper Stakes.

Champion trainer Peter Snowden isn’t making any bold predictions his mare Coco Jamboo can upset the outstanding Bella Nipotina at Eagle Farm on Saturday – but he’s not ruling it out either.

Coco Jamboo and Bella Nipotina are clashing in the final Group 1 of the season, the $700,000 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m).

Bella Nipotina, a multiple Group 1 winner of more than $10 million prizemoney, is the dominant $2.20 favourite in overnight TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Tiara while Coco Jamboo is out to $16.

Former English mare Coco Jamboo goes to the Tiara after winning at her Australian debut in the Hawkesbury Crown before finishing fifth to C’est Magique in the Dane Ripper Stakes.

Snowden said there was plenty of merit in Coco Jamboo’s last start effort.

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“If you watch a replay of Coco Jamboo’s last start, it was an excellent run,’’ Snowden said.

“She made up a lot of ground in the straight, I was more than happy with her effort. She had to go too far back from a wide gate and had too much work to do.

“But from a better gate (barrier three) on Saturday she should be four lengths closer.

“I know it is a big task to beat Bella Nipotina but I wouldn’t rule her out of being a knockout chance.’’

Snowden, who will train on his own next season after announcing on Thursday that his training partnership with son, Paul, will be dissolved at the end of July, revealed it has been a deliberate plan to give Coco Jamboo only the one lead-up run into the Tiara after her Hawkesbury Crown win on May 4.

Coco Jamboo.

“Coco Jamboo is only a lightly framed mare and I wanted to look after her,’’ he said.

“The Tatts Tiara was always the main goal and I didn’t want to get her there on an empty ‘tank’.

“Her work was great on Tuesday and she is in the right frame of mind for this race.’’

The Snowden stable also has Tashi, Ghaanati and Ka Bling lining up in the Group 3 $200,000 Healy Stakes (1200m) and Devil’s Throat is in the Edward Street Handicap (1200m).

“Tashi is probably the one who is going really well,’’ Snowden said. “Ghanaati’s effort was good the other day and Ka Bling can run a competitive race.

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“Devil’s Throat has a bad gate (barrier 15) but he doesn’t like to be bottled up anyway and he won’t be from out there.’’

At Rosehill Gardens, Snowden’s only starter is the tough import Touristic in the Listed $200,000 WJ McKell Cup (2000m).

Touristic, rated a $8.50 chance in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting behind Golden Path ($3.30 favourite), returned to top form with a strong win at Mornington last start.

“He won nicely the other day, it was a good, strong win,’’ Snowden said. “He is up a bit in class but he’s trained on well.

“I would like to think he is a live chance in the Grafton Cup if he runs a good race on Saturday.’’

Originally published as ‘Knockout chance’: Trainer Peter Snowden’s faith in Coco Jamboo in Group 1