Media World wins the Hawkesbury Guineas for Peter Snowden

Media World enhanced champion trainer Peter Snowden’s already outstanding record at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting with a courageous frontrunning effort to win on Saturday.

Media World holds off Just Party to win the Hawkesbury Guineas on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

Media World enhanced champion trainer Peter Snowden’s already outstanding record at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting with a courageous frontrunning effort to win on Saturday.

The superbly-bred Media World held off the late surge of Just Party to win the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m).

Snowden has a real affinity with the iconic Hawkesbury meeting with Media World giving him a record fifth win in the Guineas after previous successes with Exoboom (2021), Military Zone (2019), Limes (2013) and Free Wheeling (2012).

The master trainer has also won five Clarendon Stakes including with Media World last year.

Media World becomes a rare dual winner at the Hawkesbury stand-alone and joins Royal Discretion (2007-08) as winners of the Clarendon Stakes-Hawkesbury Guineas double.

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“This is a very good race meeting and I like to target it with the right type of horse,’’ Snowden said.

“We deliberately held Media World back with the Hawkesbury Guineas in mind for him.

“It’s great that he can come here and win another nice race.’’

Media World ($9), ridden by Tyler Schiller, held off the fast-finishing ($5.50 equal favourite) to win the Guineas by a nose with Zeitung ($12) 1½ lengths away third.

Candlewick ($5.50 equal favourite) had the run of the race but she faded late to finish sixth, beaten just over there lengths.

Schiller said he was able to give Media World a “breather” in the middle stages of the race which proved crucial in the sprint to the line.

🌏 Media World hangs on in the G3 @hawkesburyrc Guineas and makes it two in a row!@SnowdenRacing1 | @G1TySchil | @YulongInvestpic.twitter.com/rip3F1hXjK

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025

“Once he did quicken from the top of the straight, although the challengers were there he always felt like he was toughing it out,’’ Schiller said.

“When it counted he was in front on the line, which was good. He is a very sharp horse.

“Pete was more worried about second-up after having a tough run first-up that he was going to be a bit soft but to see him strong right through the line was great.

“I know that other horse dashed at him but he felt like he kept going through the line. He is going to improve into his preparation again, he’s a really honest horse.’’

Snowden said he was concerned that Schiller might have made too much use of Media World early to get across from his wide barrier and find the front.

“Media World was a touch slow to jump and I thought he might have made a bit too much use of him early to get there but once he did, the horse relaxed really well,’’ Snowden said.

“He got into a lovely rhythm. He’s got that really good skipping action and he quickened nicely so it was a good result.”

Media World is by champion sire Written Tycoon out of the stakes-winning Meryl and was purchased by Yulong for $1.4m at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale two years ago.

Breeders Francis and Christine Cook kept a share in Media World and were rewarded with the colt’s valuable Group 3 win.

Francis Cook, part owner of Media World. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“This colt was Meryl’s first and it was Written Tycoon’s last service at Arrowfield and we got it at a good price there before he went down to Yulong,’’ Francis Cook said.

“We ran second with Dalchini beaten a nose (to Mr Mozart in the 2022 Hawkesbury Guineas) but to get across the line with a horse we bred, I’m a bit teary.”’

Snowden said there was some thought given to gelding Media World last year.

“We were very tempted to geld him but Yulong wanted to give me one more chance with him as a colt and I’m glad they did,’’ Snowden said.

“Already its paid dividends, he’s won a Group race here today and I hope he can go on further and go to Brisbane and do something else.

“I will take him to Brisbane for the Fred Best (Classic) next. I’m hoping he could emerge as a Stradbroke Handicap – he’s heading in the right direction, that’s for sure.”

Originally published as Media World wins the Hawkesbury Guineas for Peter Snowden