Peter Snowden wary of ‘gut buster’ for Drifting in Group 2 Furious Stakes

She’s has been the subject of good support to win the Group 2 Furious Stakes but a wide draw has Peter Snowden treading warily with Drifting at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Peter Snowden is wary of giving in-form filly Drifting a “gut-buster” in Saturday’s Group 2 $250,000 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

Drifting has been $8 into $5.50 for the second leg of the Princess Series but has been set a task after drawing the outside in a competitive field of fillies.

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“On the map she gets across OK but some of those good fillies will get a good run as soon as they jump,” Snowden said.

“Gai’s horse (Too Darn Lizzie) is the only other one that goes forward but there are a couple there out wide that could go forward and make her life a bit harder.

“I don’t want her to have a gut-buster second-up but I am happy with her, she is going great.”

Snowden plans to keep his options open with Drifting and will assess if he’s better off turning the fillies focus elsewhere.

Drifting goes all the way in the Quezette Stakes! 💥

Tassie raider, Geegees Mistruth, was fantastic in 2nd.@SnowdenRacing1@blake_shinnpic.twitter.com/nOSduhcAbr

— Racing.com (@Racing) August 17, 2024

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One thing is certain, Snowden doesn’t plan on following a Princess Series path to the Flight Stakes with Drifting.

“She won’t go past 1200m,” Snowden said.

“I think we will keep her in the sprint races. Where does she get to? She has already won two Group 3s and has finished second in a Listed race.

“She has a fair bit of residual value in her so I just want to be selective where I run her.”

Drifting was placed behind Bold Bastille in the Festival Stakes at two before winning the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

She won the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) in her first-up run this preparation.

Drifting won the Quezette Stakes first-up. Picture: Scott Barbour / Racing Photos

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Both of Snowden’s runners on Saturday saw their chances dented by horrible draws with stablemate Old Flame ($251) drawn out in barrier 14 in the Group 2 $300,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m).

Old Flame is second-up after close to a year and a half away from the races.

“He’s going really, really well,” Snowden said.

“He’s not far off being back to where he was on his work and should take good improvement but has just drawn a terrible gate.

“I got to send him round to get him fit.”

Originally published as Peter Snowden wary of ‘gut buster’ for Drifting in Group 2 Furious Stakes