Peter Snowden at loss to explain High Octane’s failure in Bue Diamond

Luck deserted the Snowden stable in the Blue Diamond with High Octane’s disappointing performance compounding the scratching of Bodyguard.

Peter Snowden was disappointed with High Octane in the Blue Diamond on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Peter Snowden, a three-time Blue Diamond-winning trainer, is at a loss to explain High Octane’s flop in last Saturday’s Group 1 at Caulfield.

High Octane, strongly fancied in the market, enjoyed a faultless run in transit but failed to respond under pressure in the straight and laboured to finish ninth.

Stablemate Fearless, a $31 outsider, motored late to get within two lengths of the winner to suggest the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in Sydney could be ideal for the Pierata colt.

“High Octane I was disappointed with, he’s a better horse than that,” Snowden lamented.

“I might find something wrong in a day or two but certainly on face value nothing, that wasn’t good enough to think about (Golden) Slipper on that performance.”

High Octane won the Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) easily on debut and then had no luck in the Prelude (1100m), stuck in traffic at a crucial stage.

Despite the snarl he savaged the line to run fifth.

There was no such attacking vigour last Saturday, with High Octane gassed before the home bend.

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“He might need a break,” Snowden said.

“He jumped, got into a perfect spot, he was there ready to launch and come the corner he started to come off the bit and then last furlong there was nothing there.

“I never thought (1200m) would be an issue at all with him, anyway, we’ll work on him, as I say he might be ready for the paddock.”

Champion jockey Blake Shinn echoed the sentiment.

“Face value, disappointing,” Shinn said.

“We seemed to have a nice run, he just wasn’t there for me when the chips were down.”

High Octane, on the way to the barriers for the Blue Diamond, finished ninth in the race. Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Bodyguard, withdrawn on Blue Diamond eve on veterinary advice, returned to Sydney on Sunday.

Snowden erred on commenting further on the Bodyguard disappointment.

“I did work him this morning,” Snowden said.

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen there.”

A panel of vets, two from Racing Victoria and one independent, found Bodyguard displayed signs of lameness on Thursday and had not improved enough 24 hours later to warrant a third check on race morning.

Originally published as Peter Snowden at loss to explain High Octane’s failure in Bue Diamond