Triple Crown join the Revolution with stunning filly!
Triple Crown officially joined the Revolution on Day 4 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, securing a ripper of a filly by the dual Group 1-winning speedster RUSSIAN REVOLUTION.
This stunning physical is out of the stakes-placed mare Purcentage, whose only foal to race is emphatic Sydney 2YO winner EQUATION!
Every now and again you come across one that has the real ‘wow factor’ and this filly has that in spades.
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION was an absolute flying machine on the track, trained by Peter & Paul Snowden to win the Group 1 Galaxy and Group 1 Oakleigh Plate. Snowden Racing will also train this filly, so she’s in the best possible hands!
Our filly will be trained by Peter & Paul Snowden, who trained her sire RUSSIAN REVOLUTION!
Her stakes-placed dam has already produced an exciting horse with her first foal to race. EQUATION, this filly’s half-sister by Press Statement, won a 2YO race at Randwick by 2.3L last start, beating three subsequent winners in the process.
She is also a granddaughter of the Group 1 Thousand Guineas placegetter SPURCENT, who was multiple Group-placed as a 2YO, from the family of Hong Kong Group 1 winner GLORIOUS DAYS.
“This is a special filly. She’s by one of the fastest horses the Snowdens have ever trained, from a magnificent family and she looks an absolute runner. She ticks every box.” – Chris Ward.
Do you want to join the Revolution and race this exciting prospect with the dual Everest-winning team of Triple Crown and Peter & Paul Snowden. You’ll have to move fast, so click here to register your interest.
Cracking Brazen Beau colt and regally bred Hellbent filly join the team!
We welcomed another pair of exciting additions to the Triple Crown team during yesterday’s session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the first of which came in the shape of a beautifully put together colt by exciting young sire BRAZEN BEAU.
This colt simply floats over the ground and hails from the same family as Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winner DEALER PRINCIPAL!
“A cracking colt who moves like the real good ones. He’s an ideal candidate to target next year’s Magic Millions race.” – Chris Ward.
The best son of sire sensation I Am Invincible and a dual Group 1 winner in his own right, Brazen Beau has made an excellent start to life at stud.
North Pacific came within a lip of providing him with the winner of last year’s stallion-making Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes, while Group 2 winner Pretty Brazen also boasts an elite level placing. Another of his son’s, General Beau, easily landed this season’s first 2YO race down in Melbourne and Brazen Beau is rapidly developing into a proven source of top juvenile talent.
A magnificent mover, this colt looks to have inherited his fair share of precociousness and is one to target at all the major two-year-old races.
He will head into training with Peter & Paul Snowden, the country’s leading trainers of 2YOs, and he is sure to prove popular at an affordable price.
Peter & Paul Snowden have masterminded the race careers of subsequent stallions Capitalist, Pride Of Dubai, King’s Legacy and Russian Revolution in recent years.
Half-sister to a Grade 1-placed stallion joins the team
The Triple Crown team struck again late in the day and we are simply over the moon with the purchase of Lot 630 – a beautifully bred daughter from the first crop of exciting stallion HELLBENT.
This filly is a half-sister to Grade 1 runner-up CARACARO, who was recently snapped up for stallion duties by Kentucky stud Crestwood Farm
“A stunning filly who is a half-sister to a seriously good racehorse and the granddaughter of another elite racehorse. A beautifully put together filly with great residual value prospects.” – Chris Ward.
This filly simply has a pedigree to die for.
Her half-brother, CARACARO, finished runner-up in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes and was one of the favourites for the Kentucky Derby before injury ruled him out of the world-famous showpiece.
“Caracaro, from day one, was very talented and performed brilliantly at the highest level. I consider Caracaro to be a horse in another category and the best horse I have ever trained,” said his trainer Gustavo Delgado in an interview with US racing and breeding publication Bloodhorse.
If being a half-sister to a stallion wasn’t enough, this filly is also a granddaughter of Grade 2 winner SANTA CATARINA, who also placed at Grade 1 level on four occasions, including at the prestigious Breeders’ Cup World Championships as a 2YO.
HELLBENT, a sensational winner of the Group 1 William Reid Stakes, was chosen by Yarraman Park Stud to be the heir apparent to their all-conquering sire I AM INVINCIBLE.
Just like his Dad, Hellbent is throwing cracking types and we are delighted to have secured this filly for $60,000, a price we believe represents serious value given his progeny have sold up to $500,000.
This shot of Hellbent shows just how much our filly looks like her sire!
Like our Brazen Beau colt, she too will be trained by the multiple Group 1-winning partnership of Peter & Paul Snowden, who have trained Triple Crown fillies MOSS TRIP, REELEM IN RUBY and MISSILE MANTRA to Group race success in recent seasons – all three of whom were purchased for $90,000 or less!
Triple Crown is Australia’s leading syndicator of racehorses and shares will be available in our purchases from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in roughly five days’ time. You will be notified as soon as shares are available.
In the meantime, you can register your interest here and join the Triple Crown and Snowden Racing winning team today!
Super Saturday in prospect for Triple Crown!
Saturday is shaping up to be a huge afternoon on the track for the Triple Crown team, with no less than EIGHT runners across NSW and QLD.
We are delighted to have three live chances heading north for the lucrative Magic Millions Raceday in the shape of Poetic Charmer, Misteed and Smartedge.
POETIC CHARMER will be the first of our trio to grace the Gold Coast turf when he contests the $1m Magic Millions Snippets over 1200m. He has run two cracking races in defeat this prep, clocking impressive sectionals on both occasions, so fingers crossed he puts his best foot forward for John Allen.
Poetic Charmer: Bradley Photos
MISTEED will have to overcome a tricky gate if she is to prevail in the $1m Magic Millions Fillies & Mares race over 1300m. She has been done no favours by drawing barrier 12, but this is her pet distance and she has enjoyed a nice freshen up since her last start.
SMARTEDGE will also have to overcome barrier 12 if he is to make it third time lucky in the $1m Listed Magic Millions Cup (1400m). The talented son of Smart Missile is due a change in fortune having endured his fair share of bad luck in the previous two renewals of this race, despite being beaten less than two lengths on both occasions.
Had he not have come unstuck on a heavy track last start, SMART IMAGE could well have joined the aforementioned trio on the Gold Coast, but he will be out to gain compensation in the last race at Rosehill on Saturday. The talented colt will renew his partnership with Kerrin McEvoy, who is two from three on the son of Smart Missile.
Smart Image and Kerrin McEvoy return to scale after winning at Warwick Farm: Bradley Photos
Earlier on the Rosehill card, the ultra-consistent CHARRETERA will bid to bounce back to winning ways in the 1200m Benchmark 78 Handicap. He has placed or won on six of his last seven starts and gets the services of Tommy Berry.
We also have a strong team heading south to Kembla Grange, with exciting prospect EXOBOOM looking to back up his emphatic last start victory. The strapping son of Exosphere turned a Wyong Maiden into a procession a couple of weeks ago when storming to a seven-length success eased down, so he is likely to take some stopping on that evidence.
EYES OF DUBAI put in a much more promising performance last-start and looks to back that up in the fourth race on the card. He tackles 1500m for the first time, which is expected to suit.
Rounding out our Kembla Grange runners is SHOCK ZONE, the half-brother to our dual Group 3 winner Military Zone. Hopefully the first time blinkers have the desired effect as he attempts to break his maiden.
Best of luck to all our owners, trainers, jockeys and strappers across the country on Saturday. Let’s hope for plenty of winners!
Triple Crown secure precociously-bred Sebring colt!
We waited until late on Day 2, but the Triple Crown team are off the mark at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, securing an outstanding individual in Lot 399.
This colt is by Golden Slipper winner SEBRING out of a daughter of Magic Millions 2YO Classic heroine KARUTA QUEEN – Precocity, speed and class!
Chris & Michael Ward had kept their powder dry for most of Days 1&2 as we focus on quality over quantity, and boy does this colt ooze quality.
“An impressive, athletic colt. He’s bred to go early and has the looks to match.” – Michael Ward
By SEBRING, the all-conquering Champion 2YO Colt of his generation, this stunner is a close relation in blood to 2YO Stakes winner EAWASE. Eawase was also by Sebring and was also trained by Peter & Paul Snowden, so it’s a family our illustrious trainers know very well.
His Granddam, KARUTA QUEEN, was a Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner who trained on to win at Group level and finish runner-up to wondermare Black Caviar in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes.
Eawase – a close relation to our colt and trained by the Snowdens to win a Stakes race as a 2YO – plenty of similarities in appearance!
This colt is bred to be early and will be given every chance to do so in the Snowden Racing stable. Peter & Paul ended the 2019/20 season as the leading trainers of 2YOs, so he could not be in better hands!
He looks the perfect type to bring back to the Gold Coast in twelve months’ time for next year’s $2m Magic Millions 2YO Classic – Hopefully he can follow in the footsteps of his Granddam!
Triple Crown is Australia’s leading syndicator of racehorses and shares will be available in our purchases from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in roughly five days’ time. You will be notified as soon as shares are available.
In the meantime, you can register your interest here!
Snowden eyes Manifold with quirky Song
Brave Song is a Group 2 winner, but he has his quirks and those quirks have likely held him back from reaching loftier heights.
At Flemington on Saturday he’ll contest the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes and trainer Peter Snowden agreed, that is about right level for the now six-year-old gelding.
“There’s a few things he doesn’t like,” Snowden said.
“He draws inside gates and gets shuttered away and he just doesn’t like racing inside a horse, so there’s a few little things with him.
“If he gets the right run to suit and gets some luck in running, he can run some very good races.”
Brave Song ran second in the Christmas Stakes (1200m) on Boxing Day behind the talented Pandemic.
Group 2 winner Brave Song in winning action
He takes on a similar field on Saturday but is stepping back up in distance.
“It’s a nice race for him, up to 1400m looks ideal,” Snowden said.
“He drew barrier one and, I hate saying it, but it’s probably not the right sort of gate for him.
“He’s better getting to the outside so Johnny (Allen) has got a bit of work to do getting him to the outside but the horse is going well.”
Beaten 1.75 lengths on Boxing Day, Snowden still believes much can be taken from that run despite a less favourable draw this Saturday.
“His run was good because he didn’t have much luck there the other day.
“He was deep, back and wide and covered plenty of ground early.
“It wasn’t until late in the race (that) he got back in behind Pandemic and chased him home so there was merit in the run, and he’s come on nicely since.”
Brave Song is listed as an $8.50 chance at Sportsbet with the in-form Riding the Wave a $3.40 favourite.
By Roger Oldridge/Racing.com
Brave Song strikes a pose at the beach
Vale Hot Snitzel
It is a sad day for the team as we acknowledge the passing of HOT SNITZEL, one of the early flagbearers for Triple Crown and the horse of a lifetime for his group of owners.
Hot Snitzel’s owners celebrate stakes success at Royal Randwick
Hot Snitzel burst on to the scene as an early two-year-old, winning at Rosehill on debut by 2.5 lengths. He went on to contest the Group 1 Golden Slipper before landing the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes up in Brisbane, capping a superb juvenile preparation.
He continued to race in stakes company throughout his career, winning Group races at two, three, four, five and six. A testament to his incredible constitution, it is not difficult to see why he was often referred to as a ‘war horse’.
Hot Snitzel retired from racing at the age of seven having won eight races and over $1.3 million in prizemoney.
We would like to say a big thank you to Gerald Ryan, Peter & Paul Snowden and Muskoka Farm for taking such excellent care of him during his racing career. We would also like to thank Steve and Debbie Graham, who looked after him so well in retirement, and everyone else who played a part in his most memorable career.
Rest In Peace Snitty.
Triple Crown on the hunt for next Redzel at Magic Millions
By Andrew Hawkins of ANZ Bloodstock
Late Friday afternoon; January 10, 2014.
The action was slowly winding down at Magic Millions’ Bundall complex as day three of the annual Gold Coast Yearling Sale drew to a close.
It was a session in which the sale’s only million-dollar yearling, a Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) colt out of blueblood mare Hades (Encosta De Lago), had created headlines. With just a handful of yearlings left to parade in front of a packed buying bench, the focus had begun to turn to the next day’s racing action and the sales-restricted features, led by the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m).
Among those focused on the Saturday card at the Southport track, right across the road, were the Triple Crown Syndications team, brothers Chris and Michael Ward. However, it was after a drama-filled morning in which their Group 2-winning colt Charlie Boy (Myboycharlie) had been ruled out of the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (RL, 1400m) with a hamstring issue, one that would eventually keep him sidelined until the spring.
He had been the $8 third favourite at the time he was withdrawn.
It was with that in mind that the brothers sat ringside as the last few lots went through the Magic Millions ring.
Most eyes were on the first foal out of champion filly Melito (Redoute’s Choice), Lot 560, who would develop into the Japanese Group 2 runner-up Campbell Junior (Encosta De Lago).
Enter Lot 565, a Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) colt out of Group 3 winner Millrich (Rubiton), who had finished third to Flying Spur (Danehill) and Octagonal (Zabeel) in the 1995 Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
Snitzel x Millrich colt as a yearling
Millrich had already produced nine foals, including another Group 3 winner in Danerich (Danehill), but she died mere weeks after foaling her Snitzel colt, leaving him an orphan.
When he walked with purpose into the sales ring, led by a handler sporting a bright orange Marquee Stud shirt just before 6pm on a balmy Queensland evening, it was not the first time that he had been paraded before a hall of potential buyers.
He had been offered twice as a weanling; he was passed in for $55,000 on a $60,000 reserve at the 2013 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale before he was part of a fire sale of Lee Fleming’s stock at that year’s Inglis Weanling and Bloodstock Sale, where he was purchased for $45,000.
So when he entered the Magic Millions sales ring for the second occasion, this time as a yearling, it was second nature to the laid–back bay.
Right out of the gates, he surpassed his weanling market value with an initial bid of $100,000. Eventually, he ended up in the hands of Triple Crown Syndications for $120,000.
That Snitzel colt would be named Redzel and his feats, well-versed, more than made up for the disappointment of Charlie Boy’s withdrawal. A two-time Group 1 winner, Redzel became the first horse to win the world’s richest turf race, The Everest (1200m), following up a year later to become Australia’s second highest-earning racehorse of all time.
“It was simply amazing; the life experiences we all shared cannot be replicated anywhere else,” Chris Ward told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday.
“When Mike and I purchased him from the Magic Millions, we had high hopes for him but you couldn’t dream up what he ultimately achieved. The Everest didn’t even exist at that stage.
“To be a part of his journey was incredible, from watching him dominate on the racetrack to seeing his name and the red Triple Crown colours up on the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge was pretty surreal. At his peak, he was arguably the best sprinter in the world. Our Triple Crown motto is ‘Live The Dream’ and Redzel epitomised that ethos for our owners.”
Redzel on route to winning The Everest
For the first time since that 2014 sale, though, there is no Redzel in the stable, the veteran sprinter earning a well-deserved retirement after finishing third in the T J Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Randwick in April. That means, for the Ward brothers, the hunt is on for the next potential Everest winner – a search that continues in earnest next week at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that different measures have had to be taken in order for the Sydney-based brothers to participate in next week’s auction.
“The Covid curveballs have continued so we continue to adapt our approach,” he said. “This is something that the industry as a whole has done particularly well to date and we will continue to do for a little while yet.
“With Sydney’s Northern Beaches declared a Covid hotspot, we abandoned most of our Christmas to New Year break and hit the road to the Southern Highlands and Hunter Valley to continue on from our pre-Christmas inspections. We have just had to do our homework earlier this year and conduct more on-farm inspections so we are fully prepared for any logistical challenges that get thrown our way.”
The inspections have attracted large crowds as Sydney-based buyers and agents have flocked to regional NSW in order to attend the Magic Millions. For the Ward brothers, they have been taken by the quality of the stock that is on offer in 2021.
“We have been really impressed by the catalogue that Magic Millions have put together this year and the vendors have done an excellent job in navigating their way through the recent challenges and are presenting some really high-quality yearlings,” he said. “The Magic Millions is known for attracting the early-going, precocious types and this year looks to be no different.
“Good horses come from all sales, but the Magics give you a month or two head start which is ideal for those early two-year-old types.”
Last year, Triple Crown left with six purchases: Daichi (Maurice), Artie’s Dreamtime (Flying Artie), Nullify (Epaulette), Northern Excel (Exceed And Excel), Pole Position (Astern) and Crime Spree (Sebring). Chris Ward is excited to unveil these horses over the next few months.
Crime Spree has returned to pre-training following his most recent spell
“The Magic Millions has always been a great source of success for us over the years and we have a number of really nice youngsters from last year’s sale just starting to come through now,” he said.
“They seem to be pleasing the Snowdens in their work and the next few months will be really exciting. It’s like waiting to open your Christmas presents to see what you have and we are just starting to remove the ribbons now.”
Magic Millions meeting looms for quartet
Proving just how potent the January sale has been for the Triple Crown brigade is the fact their red and white colours will be carried by a number of runners at the Magic Millions raceday on Saturday week, with Poetic Charmer (Your Song), Misteed (Exceed And Excel), Smartedge (Smart Missile) and Smart Image (Smart Missile) among the names bandied about.
“The Magic Millions race day is a day where they really splash the cash around for the owners,” he said. “Most races are worth either $1 million or $2 million and there is even a maiden race worth a quarter of a million so it’s a great opportunity for the owners to get a good return.
“We look like we will have a number of runners there on the day. Poetic Charmer is being aimed at either the Magic Millions Cup or Magic Millions Snippets and Misteed will tackle the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares race. Smartedge will contest the Cup, he has run really well in the race the last two years; both times, he was held up and he finished just a length and three-quarters from the winner.
Poetic Charmer is one of four Triple Crown horses bound for the Magic Millions raceday – Bradley Photos
“Then we have the highly talented Smart Image who has been targeted at the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas. Thanks to striking a heavy track last start, he is at some risk of not gaining a start in the race but if he does, he has a big chance of winning it. In fact, all of our runners will be going in as live chances which is exciting for our owners.”
Smart Image is perhaps the most promising of the Triple Crown quartet as a winner of three of his five starts, remaining unbeaten away from a wet track, and in a number of ways he is reminiscent of Redzel early in his career.
There is already a striking parallel between both Redzel and Smart Image in that their respective sires – Snitzel and Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock) – both won the Breeders’ Plate (Listed, 1000m), while their dams – Millrich and Shared Reflections (Umatilla) – took out the Sweet Embrace Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m). In fact, if not for Smart Missile’s shock withdrawal at the gates in 2011, both sires and both dams would have contested the Golden Slipper.
Despite both Redzel and Smart Image possessing a precocious pedigree with both winning as juveniles, another similarity is that both have been given time to excel beyond their three-year-old days, although both were thrown in the deep end early in their careers too.
For Redzel, he was beaten in the Kindergarten Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at his second start and was tested at Group level early in his three-year-old season, but in the second half of that campaign he ran in restricted company, open handicaps or Listed races. It wasn’t until he was a four-year-old that he faced his first Group 1 challenge.
Smart Image has been on a similar trajectory, racing primarily in restricted company apart from one outing at stakes level in the Up And Coming Stakes (Gr 3, 1300m). On Saturday, he finished fifth behind Nuclear Summit (Spirit Of Boom) as a drifting favourite on the Kensington track, a heavy surface bringing him unstuck once again.
Exciting colt Smart Image made a winning return at Canterbury last month – Bradley Photos
However, the prospect of a good track up at the Gold Coast has Ward excited about the $2 million feature.
“There is no doubt Smart Image is above average,” he said.
“Not many horses start their careers like he has and he has a real X-factor about him.
“He’s a duffer on the heavy tracks but on the dry, he is very, very impressive. He possesses a fantastic turn-of-foot and I believe he still has good improvement to come as he matures and works everything out.
“He looks to be a Group–quality horse to me. Can he become our next Group 1 winner? Only time will tell.”
Triple Crown currently has 60 or so syndicated horses on the books, the majority with Peter and Paul Snowden at Randwick. Chris Ward believes that, despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia’s renowned thirst for racehorse ownership will continue to thrive in the coming years.
“Covid has obviously thrown up a number of challenges from left field but I have been amazed at how resilient the industry has been,” he said. “The various sales figures have held up really well and the demand for shares in horses hasn’t let up. People seem to be adapting well and it appears they want to live a little and enjoy what racehorse ownership has to offer which is unique and exhilarating.
“We are particularly grateful and fortunate to have really loyal and supportive owners which has allowed us to operate the business as usual. I can see 2021 presenting some great opportunities and we are looking forward to taking advantage of that for our owners. More big race winners and great value buys is what we are working towards in 2021.”
Exciting future ahead as Exo goes BOOM at Wyong!
The new year got off to the perfect start at Wyong on Saturday when EXOBOOM confirmed his status as an exciting prospect with a dominant win.
The son of Exosphere turned the 1350m Maiden Plate into a procession, justifying his short odds and never giving his owners a moments worry on route to a seven length romp.
Saturday’s victory was even more special in light of the drama surrounding his last start at Kensington, when Exoboom crossed the line in first place before being demoted to second in the stewards’ room.
There was no need for Stewards’ intervention on Saturday, however, with Brandon Griffiths settling Exoboom in a lovely position on the heels of the leader.
The pair began to pour it on from the 600m mark and Exoboom was simply in a different league to his rivals, defying a touch of greenness to career away in the straight before being eased down close to home.
“That was super, I was really proud of him on Saturday and I’m sure all his owners were as well,” said a delighted Peter Snowden in his post-race debrief.
Exoboom and his strapper following his impressive victory at Wyong – Bradley Photos
“I wanted to see how he went on a genuine heavy track, the reason being I think he is a horse who can race on through the winter months. He’s one we can think about setting for a program up in Brisbane.
“I know he’s only won a Maiden, but it’s clear to see he’s above average. I want to give him every chance to be the best horse he can be.
“If he was to have a break now he can come back for those decent races up in Brisbane. We have a nice horse and we need to look after him.”
It’s not often horses win with that kind of authority and there is certainly an exciting future ahead for Exoboom. Congratulations to Snowden Racing and all his owners on a memorable success!
Miss Sure Shot fires home another win at Kembla
Talented mare MISS SURE SHOT fired home another winner for the Triple Crown team at Kembla Grange on Saturday, taking her record to two from two this preparation.
The daughter of Shooting To Win benefitted from a peach of a ride by Brandon Griffiths to score an authoritative half-length success over the tenacious Shadow Chaser, who kept Miss Sure Shot honest all the way to the line.
Miss Sure Shot jumped away nicely from the barriers and Brandon settled her in the perfect spot, on the heels of the leaders with cover. She travelled beautifully throughout and enjoyed a lovely run in transit, before letting down strongly in the straight to record her third career victory.
“She’s in good form now and two wins from two starts this preparation is great,” a delighted co-trainer Peter Snowden said in his post-race debrief.
“Brandon rode her very well and gave her the run of the race from that good draw. It was a gutsy win and she actually started to pull away the last four of five strides, which was good to see.
“I’m really happy for all the owners who have been patient with her and it’s good to see her win a couple straight away this prep.”
Congratulations to all the team at Snowden Racing, all of Miss Sure Shot’s owners and her strapper Sarah.
Miss Sure Shot wins a shade cosily on the line – Bradley Photos
Another big congratulations to Brandon Griffiths, who notched his first win for both Peter & Paul Snowden and the Triple Crown team having recently been appointed apprentice to the Snowden stable.
Hopefully plenty more to come from both Brandon and Miss Sure Shot in the future!
Brandon Griffiths and Miss Sure Shot return to the winner’s post at Kembla – Bradley Photos
Smart Image enhances Guineas credentials with dominant win
Exciting colt SMART IMAGE announced himself as a serious contender for next month’s $2m Magic Millions 3YO Guineas with an explosive first-up win at Canterbury on Friday night.
Given a superb ride by Kerrin McEvoy, the son of Smart Missile made it three wins from four starts with a cosy half length success over Catapult, defying a tricky draw and giving weight away to older horses in the process.
Smart Image jumped away well from his wide barrier and McEvoy immediately took him back to the rear of the field, before coming across heels to the sit on the inside rail. He travelled sweetly thereafter and ended up three pairs pack, before improving his position slightly as the field approached the turn for home.
At the top of the straight McEvoy was unable to get Smart Image to the outside and the pair briefly looked in a spot of bother, but when a gap presented itself towards the inside the colt surged through it impressively, showing an electric turn of foot in the final 100m for a dominant win on the line.
After impressing both his jockey and Peter & Paul Snowden, Smart Image is set to have one more run before a trip north for the lucrative Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on the Gold Coast in January.
“He jumped out fine but I didn’t have the speed to get a spot where I would have liked, so I had to ride for Plan B,” McEvoy told Smart Image’s ecstatic owners in his post-race debrief.
All Smiles! Kerrin McEvoy couldn’t hide his delight after partnering Smart Image to victory at Canterbury on Friday – Credit: Bradley Photos
“I came back and we rode the rail, he got in a lovely rhythm and travelled really well around the corner. It was his first run around Canterbury and he did it quite well.
“Once we got the gap he picked up really sharply. I can’t wait to see him go north [to the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas] and see how he goes.
“It was a great win and onwards and upwards for the prep.”
Smart Image’s delighted owners enjoy some post-race celebrations
“That was a huge effort,” a delighted Peter Snowden added.
“He was good late and through the line he was full of running, which is great to see going forward, knowing that his grand final is going to be over 1400m in a month’s time.”
Having won both of his starts as a two-year-old at Warwick Farm and Rosehill respectively, Smart Image’s sole defeat came in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes in August, when he failed to handle the heavy track.
Friday’s win took his career earnings past the $100,000 mark and congratulations to all his owners on another terrific success.
He is a colt with an exciting future!
