Missile launches her campaign with dominant Caulfield win
Talented mare MISSILE MANTRA got her preparation off to the best possible start at Caulfield on Saturday, beating a field of handy sprinters to take out the Neds Filter Form Handicap (1200m) in dominant fashion.
A gutsy winner of the Group 3 Summoned Stakes at the end of her last prep, Missile Mantra looks to have retuned better than ever based on Saturday’s 1.75 length victory, which came over a trip short of her optimum.
The daughter of Smart Missile showed a potent turn of foot to come from last to first in the 1200m contest, with winning jockey Mark Zahra confident there is more to come further down the track.
🌟 She’s back! 🌟
Last start Group 3 winner MISSILE MANTRA kicks off her prep in perfect fashion with a stylish victory @MelbRacingClub 🥇
With bigger targets ahead, she looks to be in for a good prep 🤞
Congratulations to @SnowdenRacing1 and all her owners! #winner https://t.co/h1UryYFh5y
— Triple Crown Syndications (@TripleCrownSynd) April 10, 2021
“I didn’t really want to ride light today, but I looked up her jump out and thought she could win off it, so the bit of torture last night and this morning was worth it,” Zahra told Racing.com.
“I was pretty confident today and I was happy to leave her be early and think she’d be too good late.
“It doesn’t always play out that way but coming to the bend (I was) looking like I had them covered and I was getting there a bit soon, but I didn’t want to stop the momentum and she won with something in hand.”
“I think she’s got some black-type in her this campaign for sure. She looks really good this campaign and she’s going really well.”
Co-trainer Peter Snowden was delighted with Missile Mantra’s first-up performance and confirmed that the Group 1-placed mare will return to stakes level at her next start.
“That was a fantastic start to her preparation.
“The way she travelled and trucked up to them, she looked the winner a long way from home and she put them away and won easily.
Missile Mantra and her strapper pose for the camera following her dominant first-up win – Racing Photos
“I did say I’d bring her to Sydney after that, but I’ve just had a rethink and there’s the Listed Anniversary Vase at Caulfield on April 24th. That gives her a chance to win another Stakes race down in Melbourne before coming up to Sydney.
Congratulations to the team at Snowden Racing Flemington, who have been on a red-hot run of late, and all her owners!
Missile Mantra’s owners celebrate her latest triumph at Caulfield – Racing Photos
Missile hits Caulfield target
Missile Mantra is likely to venture interstate searching to add further black type to her record after winning first-up at Caulfield on Saturday.
The four-year-old daughter of Smart Missile swooped from last of five runners to claim the $125,000 Neds Filter Form Handicap (1200m), an open handicap.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and ridden to victory by Mark Zahra, Missile Mantra ($4.20) defeated Fabric ($6) by 1.75 lengths, with Simply Optimistic ($4.40) a further length away in third.
“I was pretty confident today and I was happy to leave her be early and think she’d be too good late,” Zahra said.
“It doesn’t always play out that way but coming to the bend (I was) looking like I had them covered and I was getting there a bit soon but I didn’t want to stop the momentum and she won with something in hand.”
“I looked up her jump-out and I thought she could win off it.”
Missile Mantra has returned impressively this preparation and Mark Zahra believes she has a nice black-type race in her.@SnowdenRacing1 @MelbRacingClub pic.twitter.com/qdDocdUkvU
— Racing.com (@Racing) April 10, 2021
Dollar For Dollar ($2.70 favourite) enjoyed an uncontested lead but was the first horse beaten at the 300-metre mark, weakening to finish last with apprentice Will Price at a loss to explain the disappointing performance.
Missile Mantra was a two-year-old Stakes winner over 1200 metres at Caulfield, claiming the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes in May 2019, and she doubled her tally at her final start last campaign, winning the Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1500m) at Sandown Hillside on November 14.
Snowden Racing’s stable representative Andrew Angelone said Missile Mantra’s resumption was delayed by a leg infection, but she will now be likely to travel interstate with other Stakes races in mind.
“She’s come back in great order… hopefully we can keep winning,” Angelone said.
Missile Mantra has raced 17 times for four wins and two minor placings, with prizemoney now beyond the $500,000 mark.
By Carl Di Iorio of Racing.com
Harlem Blues back in the winning groove at Sandown
Progressive 3YO HARLEM BLUES bounced back to winning ways in eye-catching fashion with a cosy success at Sandown Hillside on Easter Monday.
The son of Your Song overcame a tardy start to record a well-deserved first metropolitan win, getting the better of multiple city winner Lady Solly by a narrow margin under a confident Michael Poy ride.
Harlem Blues took a late gap and exploded to win the first leg of the quaddie at Sandown.
— Racing.com (@Racing) April 5, 2021
Having sat out the back in the early stages, Harlem Blues was always within striking distance of the leaders and showed good acceleration when the gap presented itself, much to the delight of winning co-trainer Peter Snowden.
“It ended up being a good ride,” he told Harlem Blues’ owners in his post-race debrief. “They set off at a fast pace and he (Michael Poy) judged the pace well.
“He let him find his feet, travelled well down the hill and went for a gap in between horses. There wasn’t much room there, but once he got his head through away he went, and he won quite convincingly in the end.
“It was a good confidence booster for him and it’s good to see him putting his head down and having a bit of a crack. Now the gelding is starting to kick in he will get more and more genuine as time goes on, but that was a good result today.”
Harlem Blues and Michael Poy fly through the line – Racing Photos
The longer gap between runs certainly seemed to suit Harlem Blues and all credit to the team at Snowden Racing Flemington for having him in tip top order.
A big congratulations to all his owners on what was a terrific win, with a special mention to his breeder and part-owner Chris Handley, who was at Sandown to cheer his pride and joy home!
Harlem Blues and Michael Poy return to scale following their win at Sandown – Racing Photos
Octagon records explosive Maiden win at Werribee
Some horses simply grow another leg when crossing the border into Victoria and that’s exactly what OCTAGON did at Werribee on Thursday, where he turned the Maiden Plate into a one act affair with a devasting 2.5L success.
The son of Exosphere appeared to relish the strong tempo and careered clear in the straight, leaving his Sydney form well behind in the process.
WOW! How’s this for a turn of foot? 👀
OCTAGON (by Exosphere) whips up around the turn and kicks clear in fine style to win @spendthriftpark 🥇
A beautifully judged ride from John Allen 👏
Congratulations to the team @SnowdenRacing1 and all his owners! 🍾
🎥 @Racing#winner pic.twitter.com/D6sxGTqt4z
— Triple Crown Syndications (@TripleCrownSynd) April 1, 2021
Settled towards the rear under John Allen, who was on board for the first time, Octagon made up a stack of ground around the home turn to dispute the lead at the top of the straight.
The race was put to bed in a matter of strides, with Octagon showing an electric turn of foot to surge two lengths in front before being kept up to his work on the run to the line.
“There must be something in the water down in Melbourne,” winning co-trainer Peter Snowden quipped in his post-race report.
“Going back the Melbourne way he has just found another gear and he beat them really easily today.
“He went and gathered them up, was round them and gone. He dashed away and won by a widening margin, which was really good to see.
Octagon routs his rivals at Werribee – Racing Photos
“You’d like to think he can improve a bit more now that he’s back going in that direction, he really enjoys it.”
The team at Snowden Racing Flemington were confident Octagon had travelled down to Melbourne in grand order and they proved to be bang on the money! Well done to all the team there.
A big congratulations to all his owners on what was a terrific win – Hopefully the first of many for this imposing individual.
Octagon and his strapper pose for the cameras following his impressive victory at Werribee – Racing Photos
Mazu flies home for Pago Pago third
Triple Crown’s exciting 2YO colt MAZU gained plenty of new admirers when flashing home for third in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
Andrew Adkins was forced to switch the son of Maurice numerous times in the straight as the pair struggled to find clear daylight, but once a gap presented itself down to the inside, Mazu showed an impressive turn of foot to get within 0.4L of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Shaquero.
It was a superb effort from Mazu, who was taking on some of Australia’s finest colts on just his second career start, having beaten subsequent winner Conrad in tenacious fashion on debut at Canterbury last month.
Saturday’s gallant effort saw Mazu become the first Australian Stakes performer for Maurice, who sired his second Group winner in his native Japan on Sunday courtesy of Shigeru Pink Ruby’s victory in the Japanese 1000 Guineas Trial.
“I was really proud of him,” a delighted Peter Snowden told Mazu’s owners in his post race report.
“Just if those runs had have come a bit quicker, that could have been the difference between winning and losing.
“When he finally saw clear daylight he charged to the line, so you could certainly make a case that he was a bit stiff he didn’t win on Saturday. He was only beaten a neck, and when you look at the replay, just inside the furlong he was almost two and a half lengths behind the winner.
“His two runs have been top notch and he’s a lovely horse with good ability. I definitely think he’s a black-type horse and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he does next preparation.”
A $180,000 purchase from last year’s Inglis Classic Sale, Mazu is a half-brother to Champion 2YO Filly Headway, who finished runner-up in the Golden Slipper prior to landing the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes as a 3YO.
The future is certainly bright for Mazu and congratulations to all his owners on securing black-type at the first attempt!
Mazu winning on debut at Canterbury last month – Bradley Photos
Ruby and Mazu hunt Rosehill riches
An exciting weekend lies in store for the Triple Crown team with representation in two of Saturday’s feature races at Rosehill Gardens.
Exciting two-year-old colt MAZU bids to follow up his impressive debut win at Canterbury when taking on a quality field of colts in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes.
The son of Maurice confirmed the promise shown in his trials when overcoming a wide barrier to score on debut last month, where he showed impressive gate speed to cross the field early before kicking clear as they straightened for home.
That form was given a major boost earlier this week, with runner-up Conrad justifying odds on favouritism with an emphatic 3.7 length victory at Wyong on Tuesday.
It is a big step up from a Maiden to a field which includes the Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner and Blue Diamond runner-up, but Mazu deserves to take his chance and, regardless of tomorrow’s result, he has an exciting future ahead of him.
Later on the Rosehill card, REELEM IN RUBY gets her first crack at the highest level in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic for fillies and mares.
An impressive winner of the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes in 2019, Ruby has returned from a long layoff with two solid efforts in Group company, and the daughter of Pierro should be ready to peak third up.
Reelem In Ruby leads home her Triple Crown stablemate Moss Trip for a dream result in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes – Bradley Photos
She has been done no favours by the barrier draw and will have to overcome gate 17 if she is to get the chocolates, but it would be great to enhance her value further with a Group 1 result on her pedigree page.
Best of luck to all the team at Snowden Racing and both sets of connections on what is a big day for all!
NSW prizemoney boost totals $20 million
Racing NSW today announced prizemoney increases of some $20 million annually and the creation of a new $100,000 Midway Race to be added to metropolitan Saturday race meetings.
Minimum prizemoney increases for Country and Metropolitan racing from 1 July 2021 are outlined below:
| Race Type | Minimum Prizemoney from 1 July 2021 | Annual Increase |
| Metropolitan Saturdays | $130,000 | $1,350,000 |
| Metropolitan Saturday Midway Races | $100,000 | $4,800,000 |
| TAB Highways | $100,000 | $1,200,000 |
| Country TAB | $24,000 | $5,200,000 |
| Country Sky 2 | $15,000 | $1,400,000 |
| Country Non-TAB | $10,000 | $920,000 |
| Country Picnic | $3,000 | $130,000 |
| Additional Country Showcase meetings | $30,000 | $1,280,000 |
As noted above, there will also be a further 20 country race meetings that will be upgraded to Country Showcase status carrying prizemoney of $30,000 per race, an annual increase of $1,280,000.
Our Spring Racing Carnival from 2021 has also been enhanced as set out below, with increased prizemoney for a number of feature races, highlighted by the Epsom Handicap prizemoney increasing to $1.5 million and a $1 million bonus to any horse that is able to win both the Craven Plate and the Rosehill Gold Cup in the same year.
Additional feature races have been introduced to further strengthen the revamped Spring Racing Carnival introduced by Racing NSW, which is headlined by The Everest and The Golden Eagle in the metropolitan area with The Hunter and The Gong featuring in the regional areas. Triple Crown have had representation in all four of those million dollar races since their respective inceptions!
| Race Name | Prizemoney from 1 July 2021 | Annual Increase |
| Epsom Handicap | $1,500,000 | $500,000 |
| Villiers Stakes | $750,000 | $500,000 |
| Flight Stakes | $750,000 | $250,000 |
| Craven Plate | $750,000 | $250,000 |
| Rosehill Gold Cup | $750,000 | $250,000 |
| New Spring feature races x 2 | $500,000 each | $1,000,000 |
| Lead up to The Hunter and The Gong | $200,000 each | $400,000 |
| Bonus for winning both the Craven Plate and Rosehill Gold Cup. | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
Minister for Racing, Mr Kevin Anderson, welcomed the prizemoney increases and creation of the Midway Races.
“It is great to see continued increases in prizemoney to the grassroots of racing and new ways to broaden and strengthen racing in NSW,” Mr Anderson said.
“Racing continues to go from strength to strength in NSW across the board, whether it be feature Carnivals, TAB racing or non-TAB and picnic racing,” Mr Anderson further remarked.
The Chairman of Racing NSW, Mr Russell Balding AO, identified the importance of prizemoney increases being spread throughout the industry, stating:
“We are pleased to be able to announce this significant increase in prizemoney which will benefit country races as well as the Saturday metropolitan race meeting each week. These increases broaden the spread of prizemoney and further improve the dividends back to our owners and participants. We also want to make sure that our traditional Spring Feature races continue to attract quality fields and maintain their prizemoney relativity.
“The objective of the Midway Races is to build the competitiveness of small to mid-sized stables and further develop the field sizes and quality for metropolitan racing,” Mr Balding added.
Australian Turf Club Vice Chair, Ms Julia Ritchie welcomed the feature race prizemoney increases.
“Our Everest Carnival will be further boosted by prizemoney increases for iconic races such as the Epsom Handicap, while also developing the Carnival’s middle-distance program,” Ms Ritchie said.
“It is pleasing a number of our flagship races across Spring and into the Summer have been recognised with these prizemoney increases,” Ms Ritchie added.
Flying Artie sires Blue Diamond winner!
FLYING ARTIE continued his flying start to life at stud on Saturday, when his first-crop son ARTORIUS ran out a blistering winner of the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.
Flying Artie sits top of the first season sire standings by winners and the Triple Crown team are delighted to have four sons/daughters by this exciting stallion – BUT ONLY ONE OF THEM HAS SHARES AVAILABLE!
A recent purchase from the Inglis Classic Sale, our Flying Artie ex Charity Belle colt has so much going for him.
Not only is he by the sire of this year’s Blue Diamond winner, but he is also out of a mare by rapidly-emerging broodmare sire NOT A SINGLE DOUBT – Just like this year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner SHAQUERO!
His dam, Charity Belle, has already produced two winners from two foals to race, including the six-time scorer BE MY STAR, who has also competed at Group level. His granddam, the multiple Stakes winner ADAGIETTO, is the dam or granddam of six stakes horses!
The fact that only two dams were listed on his pedigree page in the Inglis Classic catalogue shows that this colt boasts a deep, current and classy pedigree. Other close relations include Group 3 winner BONVICINI and Group 1 Stradbroke placegetter NICCANOVA.
Arguably even more exciting than all of the above, however, is that this colt is an absolute ripper of a type – Strong, athletic and a ready-made 2YO, JUST LIKE HIS RED-HOT SIRE!
Understandably this exciting prospect has already been extremely popular, even more so since a son of FLYING ARTIE landed Saturday’s Blue Diamond. He is already being broken in and will join up with the multiple Group 1-winning partnership of Peter & Paul Snowden upon completion of his breaking.
Like father like son…but ARTORIUS goes one better than his sire FLYING ARTIE✈️absolutely flying home to win the Blue Diamond🔷@FreedmanRacing
Just an incredible achievement for our 1st season sire FLYING ARTIE👏
Congrats to breeder Greg Perry & all connections @blueskybstock https://t.co/oTVJe893iM
— Newgate (@NewgateFarm) February 20, 2021
COULD THIS COLT BE NEXT YEAR’S BLUE DIAMOND WINNER!?
Shares are available at $19,990 per 10% or $9,995 per 5%, which includes all expenses up until April 1 2021.
Click here to register your interest now, or alternatively call us in the office on 02 9499 5212.
Pedigree boost for our Russian Revolution filly!
Triple Crown’s recently acquired Russian Revolution filly received a timely pedigree boost on Thursday when her half-brother – EQUATION – made it two wins from just three career starts!
On what was his first run since June, Equation overcame trouble in running to score an impressive win at Gosford – confirming the promise he showed when winning a 2YO Maiden at Royal Randwick on his previous outing.
RACE 6- BM64 Hcp (1200m)
WINNER: EQUATION
TRAINER: @ANeashamRacing
RIDER: @TommyBerry21It was EQUATION eating up the ground late as Tommy Berry times his run to perfection on the very supported son of Press Statement.@AquisFarm @G1G_Racing
Congratulations To All Involved pic.twitter.com/0d7ysWpAuk— Gosford Race Club (@gosford_races) February 4, 2021
The future certainly looks bright for both Equation and our Russian Revolution filly, who will be trained by the multiple Group 1-winning partnership of Peter & Paul Snowden at Royal Randwick.
Peter & Paul trained Russian Revolution himself to win two Group 1s, so this filly could not be in better hands!
A LIMITED NUMBER OF SHARES ARE AVAILABLE in this hugely-exciting prospect, so click here to register your interest now!
Windsweep blows them away for deserved Maiden success
Having placed at metropolitan level twice already this preparation, WINDSWEEP gained a well-deserved maiden success with an authoritative display at Scone on Thursday.
The daughter of Deep Field was given a lovely ride by Digger McLellan, who saved ground on the rail before producing Windsweep at the perfect time to score a cosy half length victory.
Ridden with slightly more restraint that in her previous outings, Windsweep was able to take advantage of her soft barrier and settled beautifully behind the speed.
She travelled strongly throughout and, once presented with a gap in the straight, Windsweep showed a smart turn of foot to put her head in front and win with more in hand than the margin suggests.
Windsweep powers her way to victory – Bradley Photos
“That was a nice win today,” co-trainer Peter Snowden told her owners in his post-race debrief. “She just needed a bit of luck for a while there in the straight, but once she got it she put the race to bed pretty quickly.
“That’s a great confidence booster for her and she looked strong on the line. That’s definitely the way to ride her – ride her quiet rather than up on the speed to try and force the issue.
“She’s a lovely, big, strong filly and there’s plenty left in her. She’s won one and she might win two or three on the bounce now, so we’ll look to give her every opportunity.”
It was great to get the monkey of Windsweep’s back and hopefully there is plenty more to come from this filly up in class.
Congratulations to the team at Snowden Racing and all her owners on a terrific win!
Windsweep and her strapper following her impressive victory – Bradley Photos
