Ray Thomas blackbook and there’s stars going in and out of the powerful Snowden yard

Sheeza Belter scored a deserved win in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday at just her second run back this campaign and the Snowdens are already thinking autumn carnival.

Ray Thomas

7 min read

November 6, 2022 - 12:22PM

News Corp Racing and Sports Wagering Hub

Paul Snowden is interviewed after winning the Hot Danish Stakes with Sheeza Belter. Picture: Mark Evans–Getty Images

Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have decided to spell two of their spring stable stars, Sheeza Belter and Mazu, but they are bringing in some handy replacements in Old Flame and Huetor to target some of the big money races going into the Sydney summer carnival.

Sheeza Belter scored a deserved win in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday at just her second run back this campaign but the Snowdens are already thinking of an autumn carnival program for the brilliant filly.

“It was great to get her back on top of the ground, the good horses come to the fore when they get those conditions,’’ co-trainer Paul Snowden said.

“But she has to stop somewhere and we’d probably rather do that now and give her the chance to get ready for autumn. The time is right to give her a break.

“It will be an exciting time for her in autumn because anything up to 1400m-1600m is perfect. Once she gets up in that distance range it opens up a lot of options for her.’’

Snowden was considering extending Mazu’s spring campaign to include the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle on Saturday but the top sprinter has also earned a break after an outstanding spring campaign that included his close third in The Everest and last start second in the Nature Strip Stakes.

“It’s the same thing with Mazu, where do you stop? He has had such a great preparation, albeit he didn’t win, but he raced at such a high level. I think he is an exciting horse and he has a lot of good racing in him going forward,’’ Snowden said.

The Hunter meeting last year is where the Snowden stable produced French import Huetor for his Australian debut, scoring in a benchmark 78 1600m race.

Huetor won three straight that campaign then returned in the autumn to win the Group 1 Doomben Cup before an eye infection ruled him out of the spring carnival.

William Pike gets Sheeza Belter home in the Hot Danish Stakes for Peter and Paul Snowden. Picture: Mark Evans–Getty Images

But the richly talented Huetor is back in work and could even be aimed at the Group 2 $2m The Ingham (Villiers Stakes) first-up at Royal Randwick next month.

“Huetor’s all good now and has been under saddle at trackwork now for about a month,’’ Snowden said.

“What we are going to run him in yet, I don’t know, but he is likely to trial in a couple of weeks and you might see him race (The Ingham) in mid-December.’’

The Ingham is also an obvious target for another of the Snowden stable’s classy European imports, Old Flame, a last start winner of the Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day.

Snowden said Old Flame is likely to be aimed at the $1m The Gong (1500m) at Kembla Grange on November 19.

“We might be a bit light on numbers for Newcastle on Saturday but The Gong is where we are thinking of running Old Flame – it looks a perfect race for him,’’ the trainer added.

YOU CAN BET ON IT

Ellsberg (Race 8) was a big result for punters in the Five Diamonds. After drifting from $2.50 to $3.30, he was still the most popular horse in the field and accounted for 35 percent of the total TAB hold on the race. Some of the big bets on Ellsberg included $20,000 at $3.40 and $5,000 at $3.30.

Barber (Race 6) was so impressive winning the Golden Gift he firmed from $26 to $11 for the Golden Slipper.

At Flemington, Alligator Blood (Race 7) landed some big bets winning the Champions Mile. Alligator Blood firmed into $6 after some big bets including $20,000 at $6, $5,000 at $6 and $5,000 at $5.50.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

Ellsberg (Race 8) was outstanding holding off Sibaaq and establishing a new 1800m Rosehill course record in the Five Diamonds. Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou are looking at a weight-for-age program for Ellsberg next autumn.

Longvillers (Race 8) lost touch with the backmarkers at the 600m but then worked his way into the race, hitting the line strongly late to finish sixth. A stakes placegetter in France, Longvillers did enough at his Australian debut to suggest he will make his mark with the Chris Waller stable.

Barber (Race 6) had to do something special to win the Golden Gift. He blew the start by two lengths but was able to come from near last on the turn, sustaining a strong sprint to score. The Godolphin youngster is unbeaten in two starts and a deserved Golden Slipper favourite.

Hugh Bowman on Barber gets up to win the Golden Gift. Picture: Mark Evans–Getty Images

Summer Loving (Race 6) squeezed out the back at the start and settled in the second half of the field rather than up on speed. When she worked into the clear in the straight, she ran on very well to finish a close third.

Sheeza Belter (Race 7) had no luck when resuming in The Invitation but with clear room in the Hot Danish Stakes she demonstrated her talent to beat the older mares impressively. She’s a top class filly and will be hard to beat in anything she contests up to 1600m in autumn.

CRUNCH TIME

Ellsberg (Race 8) established a course record for the Rosehill 1800m when he led throughout to win the Five Diamonds in 1m 47.43s. Ellsberg ran his final 600m in 34.75s as he refused to surrender his lead.

Fox Fighter (Race 5) shouldered 59kg and unleashed the best closing sectionals of the meeting, sprinting home his final 600m in 32.74s and his final 200m in 10.99s.

Barber (Race 6) charged home from back in the field to win the Golden Gift, sustaining his sprint and recording 33.85s for the final 600m to reel in the leaders. He was the only horse to break 34s in the race with Summer Loving’s 34.16s next best.

Sheeza Belter (Race 7) produced a brilliant final 600m of 32.82s to win the Hot Danish Stakes. She matched Fox Fighter with a 10.99s closing 200m sectional.

I Am Me (Race 9) dominated her rivals to win easing down by nearly two lengths yet she still recorded a very fast 33.06s final 600m and a 11.19s closing 200m.

TRACK TALK

“It’s pretty special win this race for Gerald (Ryan). I haven’t ridden a lot for him over the years but (late brother) Nathan used to ride for him all the time. Gerald said to me about 10 years ago that I will ride a Group 1 winner for him one day. The Five Diamonds isn’t a Group 1 race but it sure feels like one,’’ said Tommy Berry, rider of Ellsberg.

Tommy Berry on Ellsberg returns to scale after winning the Five Diamonds. Picture: Mark Evans–Getty Images

“Ellsberg will spell now and comeback in the autumn. I’m looking forward to running him at weight-for-age because he has the pattern to run well. We tried him at weight-for-age earlier this year and he ran third to Cascadian and Tofane so he is up to that level,’’ said trainer Gerald Ryan.

“I thought it was Belle Du Jour all over again,’’ said Godolphin’s Darren Beadman after Barber’s Golden Gift win.

“I wasn’t as relaxed as when Winx missed the start,’’ said Hugh Bowman, rider of Barber.

“She just got ‘squished’ at the start. She hit the line really well and will improve lengths off that. She’s a smart filly,” said Regan Bayliss, rider of Summer Loving.

STEWARDS SAY

Either Oar (race 1) showed good natural speed to lead throughout but it was the ride of Tommy Berry that even had stewards in awe. Berry’s saddle slipped at the start but he was able to maintain his balance to guide the sprinter to an easy win.

Tommy Berry overcomes difficulties to win on Either Oar. Picture: Mark Evans–Getty Images

Zadig (Race 2) missed the start by 10 lengths. Jockey Tom Sherry viewed the video footage of the start and did not make application for the horse to be declared a non-starter. It was established Zadig was being assisted by a barrier attendant, turned its head simultaneously as the start was affected and missed the start.

King Frankel (Race 3) became fractious in the barriers and reared on two occasions with both forelegs caught up on the barrier partition on the second occasion. The gelding remained caught up for some time and was subsequently withdrawn on veterinary advice.

Barber (Race 6) was restless in the barriers, reared at the start and as consequence lost two lengths. When being directed out to improve on the home turn, he shifted out abruptly despite the efforts of its rider and bumped Shine Your Light. At the 150m he was hampered by Maharba which shifted out when racing greenly.

Sibaaq (Race 8) was racing tight with the winner Ellsberg and prior to correct weight being declared Sibaaq’s rider Dylan Gibbons viewed the stewards video to assess if he had sufficient grounds to lodge a protest. When Gibbons elected not to protest stewards were similarly satisfied and correct weight was declared.

Ellsberg fights on courageously to win the Five Diamonds as Sibaaq just gets his head into the picture on right. Picture: Mark Evans–Getty Images

RANDWICK SNAPSHOT

With RON DUFFICY

RUN OF THE DAY

How can you go past the likeable Ellsberg who has had a picnic this preparation.

Although the track was hard and fast, to think he took more than half a second off Intergaze’s 1800m 25yo track record from the front was simply amazing.

FORGET THEY RAN

Danish Prince was back in distance, raced wide with no cover and should have got closer. Laws Of Indices was similarly impressive in a fast race behind Ellsberg and also deserves a special mention.

ONE TO FOLLOW

It was only a benchmark 78 but I Am Me was terrific winning with authority and looking a much stronger mare this campaign. She is very sharp and can charge through her classes to Listed company.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Tommy Berry was great riding his treble, Hugh Bowman was his usual cool calm and collected self on Barber after things went pear-shaped at the start but Amy McLucas take a bow nothing beats your ride from barrier 15 on To The Nines.