Trainer Peter Snowden hoping track conditions favour Tazaral in Festival Stakes

Trainer Peter Snowden is monitoring track conditions before unleashing impressive import Tazaral in the Group 3 Festival Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

Tazaral can chalk up his biggest Australian win in the Festival Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

Trainer Peter Snowden is hoping Tazaral can become an Autumn Carnival player and is keen to see the smart import get the chance to prove it in Saturday’s Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Snowden, who trains alongside his son Paul, is keen to unleash his son of Fastnet Rock first up from a spell in the $250,000 event but is wary about the prospect of a wet track in Sydney.

Rosehill was rated soft 7 during the week after summer storms lashed Sydney throughout the week.

“A soft 6 is about as bad as he wants it,” Snowden said.

“He is going great, he has had a little freshen up, his work has been sharp. He just needs a little bit better track than that to race on, that’s the only thing holding me back.”

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Tazaral was a star performer for the Snowdens in his second Australia preparation, winning his first two starts in Saturday grade before finishing second to subsequent Group 1 winner Just Fine.

The Snowdens sent him for a short spell after he only beat a handful of runners home in a 1900m event at Rosehill on September 23.

“It was his fifth run that preparation and his four runs before that were all excellent,” Snowden said.

“It was just one run one too many. We will just punch along with him but if he can win two more now he will be a carnival horse.”

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Tazaral won twice last preparation. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

Tazaral is a $14 contender with star apprentice Zac Lloyd booked to ride.

The Snowdens will only have the two runners on the Saturday card with Billiondollarbaby set to make her return in the Buy An Arrowfield Graduate Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m).

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Billiondollarbaby ($12) drew wide in barrier 14 during the week but Snowden anticipates she will jump from an improved draw first up from a spell when scratchings come out.

“She is ready to go,” he said.

“There will probably be a few scratchings so what looked a bit ugly on Wednesday, is a little bit better now and I would think there would be a few more to come out with the track.

“It won’t worry her. She is in with a chance, first up fresh and a couple of kilos off will help.”

Originally published as Trainer Peter Snowden hoping track conditions favour Tazaral in Festival Stakes