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The Triple Crown team of owners enjoyed a magnificent morning of sunshine, horseflesh and food and drinks at Snowden racing headquarters on Sunday.

We were blessed with glorious weather as a large group of our owners descended on the Randwick stables to not only come and see their own horse but also the other horses in the team and learn how they are all progressing along with some upcoming plans. You step from the busy, hustle and bustle of High Street, Randwick into a serene horse oasis just inside the Snowden Racing gates. We had no less than 26 horses parade on the morning whilst our owners, along with their families and friends, listened intently to Michael Ward and Peter Snowden discussing their progress.

The staff at Snowden Racing presented the horses immaculately and it was very exciting to see the firepower the team has leading into one of the most anticipated Spring Carnivals which this year has an incredible $45m and nine consecutive million dollar race days on offer. Redzel, of course, was the star of the show along with the likes of Military Zone, Brave Song, the old boy Dothraki and so many more including a number of up and coming stars of the future.

There were loud and excited cheers reverberating around the Gosford racetrack on Saturday, with the large group of Triple Crown owners enjoying a magnificent day out at the track with a 2yo winning double.

First it was Oribella, a 2yo daughter of Olympic Glory, having her third career start after a couple of minor placings. She has previously shown that she will appreciate a little bit of a trip and was stepping up to 1600m for the first time. She had an awkward barrier but jockey Travis Wolfgram got her travelling nicely back towards the tail of the field. She found plenty in the straight and had a great battle with the favourite all the way through to the line with Oribella proving too strong and providing her owners an early career victory. She looks a progressive type with plenty of fun ahead.

The celebratory drinks and excited dissections of the race replays had barely started to slow down when fellow Triple Crown runner Invincible Dash lined up for just his second career start. The 2yo son of I Am Invincible was set the task of taking on the older and more experienced horses. Whilst he showed some mid-race inexperience, he also showed his natural ability and once jockey Travis Wolfgram angled him to the outside and found clear air, Invincible Dash put the after-burners on in an effort to chase down the leaders who had a good 5 lengths start in the straight. He displayed a great turn-of-foot to reel them in down the short Gosford straight and produce a thrilling win on the line. It was at this point the large army in red erupted in excitement and Travis reported later that he was startled by the sudden roar from the crowd as he crossed the line.

It was a great day for the Triple Crown & Snowden Racing team with Peter & Paul not only training both Oribella and Invincible Dash to victory but they also claimed the opening race with Switching To Win for the Stuckey’s. Travis Wolfgram was on board all three winners and also deserves the credit for a ‘great day at the office’.

A big congratulations to owners in both horses;

Oribella: Triple Crown Syndications., Mr C E Anderson, Mr T C Marshall, Mr S McClymont, Mr G G Kent, Mr A Zapantis, Mr ESW Cowan, Mr K F May, Ms S P Hopkins, Mr M J Watt, Doolan & Hellams Racing, Mr C D Charteris, P V C C Racing, Lexen Racing, Mr D F Ward, Mr J C Williams, Mr M R Jones, Mrs A G Gibson, Mr R Reddy.

Invincible Dash: Triple Crown Syndications., Mr A F Herbert, Mr M Giardina, Mrs K Chau, Shout Dog, Mr I G Tyack, Mr D Colella, Sinclair, Star & Henville, Mr D J Frankel, Mr S A Broadley, Mr T J Henderson, Ohana Racing, Ms S P Hopkins, Mr K F May, Mr D J Gibson, Invincible Club, Dr A Kuok, Mr R P Grayson.

Woohoo!! Triple Crown’s 4yo son of Smart Missile was super impressive at Randwick on Saturday when he notched up an exciting win over 1400m.

With Christian Reith in the saddle, Smartedge was taken back to the tail of the field from the wide gate and was spotting the leaders some 7 or 8 lengths at the 600m mark. Upon straightening up, Christian angled his mount to the outside and let him go. Smartedge has a great turn-of-foot and he put it on display to claim the lead by the 100m and was too strong to the line, winning in a tight finish.

This was Smartedge’s second successive win after scoring in style at Eagle Farm in his prior start where he again finished with a strong sprint to the line to claim the race by a narrow margin. In total that is now 5 wins for Smartedge and his owners, with prizemoney of $321,925 so far in his career.

The decision has been made to tip Smartedge out to the paddock with January’s $1,000,000 1400m Magic Millions race firmly in his sights.

Congratulations to all of his owners: Triple Crown Syndications., Mr J N Allen, Mr D Ward, Mr G J Sweeney, Mr V P Chau, Mr J P Monaghan, Mr M J Mcgrath, Mr D J Baker, Miss J Willis, Mrs J S Willis, Mr D W Willis, Mr J A Morrow, Mr R J A Morrow, Mr J A Martin, Mr M Mammone, Mr A J Martin, Smart Gold Dollars.

Saturday’s meeting at Eagle Farm was the final day of Brisbane’s Winter Carnival and the carnival closed with a bang for the team in red!

It was a winning double for Triple Crown Syndications with Smartedge (by Smart Missile) winning race 5 and then Brave Song (by Your Song) duly saluted on race 9, the Group 3 WJ Healy Stakes.

The talented Smartedge was travelling a long way back in the field and spotting the leaders quite some margin before hoop Larry Cassidy started looking for the right run and pushed the button. Smartedge responded with his outstanding turn-of-foot and flashed home to grab the impressive victory on the line.

The in-form Brave Song had laid down three consecutive 2nds (and very impressive 2nds at that) prior to Saturday’s Healy Stakes. He kept drawing the outside gates and as a result was just getting too far back against quality opposition before reeling off closing sectionals that only very talented horses can produce. An improved barrier and terrific ride by Blake Shinn made all the difference as Brave Song stormed home to a comfortable and well deserved win.

Both horses have been primed for these victories by Peter & Paul Snowden and whilst Smartedge has returned to Sydney in search of his next targets, Brave Song has gone to the paddock for a brief spell before coming back to target the Spring Carnival.

A big congratulations to both sets of our owners!!

There’s every chance Michele Morley didn’t need a plane to fly back to Sydney on Sunday.

Morley had ventured to Brisbane on Saturday to watch Brave Song go around in the Group Three WJ Healy Stakes over 1200m at Eagle Farm but, 300m from home, it appeared her 4YO sprinter was going to need a fair amount of luck.

Ah, the irony. In Brave Song’s previous three starts this campaign the flashy bay had run second in the Group Three Hall Mark at Randwick – beaten a long neck after drawing barrier 10 in a field of 11; finished second at Scone in the Listed Luskin Star, three quarters of a length off the winner after jumping from the next to outside gate and; then, in the Group Two Moreton Cup at Doomben on 1 June – barrier eight in a field of eight – he  missed by a lip.

In the Healy however, the gods were smiling as Brave Song drew barrier one, yet – wouldn’t you know it – he still found himself behind a wall of horses approaching the business end of the race.

Even sweeter then for Morley and her fellow owners when Brave Song powered through, taking the lead at the 100m mark and scoring with plenty in hand.

Saturday’s victory brings Brave Song’s tally to six wins and seven placings from 18 starts for $537,870 in prizemoney, with the Your Song gelding’s previous best being the Listed Ladbrokes Village Stakes last October.

“You simply can’t describe the feeling when your horse wins a race like that,” said an elated Morley. “We bought into Brave Song through Triple Crown Syndications and we’re in with a terrific bunch of owners … and I reckon about two thirds of them were there at Eagle Farm. Incredible!”

Morley first got involved in racehorse ownership around three years ago, purchasing a small share in another Triple Crown runner: multiple city winner, Poetic Charmer.

“My husband grew up around horses and he got me interested, but you have your priorities with a young family. However, with the kids all grown up, I started doing quite a bit of research into ownership,” Morley explains. “Chris and Michael (Ward) have done a fantastic job at Triple Crown and I’ve currently got four small shares in horses with them. Brave Song’s my first stakeswinner though and what a fantastic horse … he’s taken us from Sydney to Melbourne, back to Sydney, to Scone and now Brisbane. Some people can go a lifetime without a horse like this and we know how lucky we are. It’s been an amazing ride.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of (trainers) Peter and Paul Snowden too and probably even a bigger fan after Saturday. They’re really down to earth.

“A few of the other people in Brave Song live relatively close by but the thing I’ve found about Triple Crown is that even the owners in the other syndicates will ring up and wish you luck before a race.

“It’s not about the money … sure, when you get a good one it pays a few bills, but there’s no amount of money in the world that will give you a thrill like I experienced on Saturday. Highly recommended!”

Brave Song is one of three stakes winners for Widden Stud’s Group One BTC Cup winner, Your Song, and is a half brother to three winners, including another 6-time winner in Gangster’s Choice.

Brave Song’s dam, Brave Choice, meanwhile, is a winning daughter of the remarkable dual Group One star, Bravery, dam of nine winners (from as many to race), including Group Two winner, Brave Prince and stakes winner, Valourina, in turn, the dam of stakes winners Timbourina, Media and Cardinal Virtue. Indeed, other black type winning descendants include Group One Railway Stakes winner, Galaxy Star, dual Perth Cup winner, Star Exhibit, Noire and Enticing Star – all stakes winners this season.

Usually purchasing around 18 yearlings annually, Triple Crown’s Chris and Michael Ward spotted Brave Song among the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2016 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale, eventually paying $67,500 for the privilege.

“It was a pretty good day at the office for Triple Crown with Smartedge winning his fourth race earlier in the Eagle Farm program,” Chris Ward enthused. “As for Brave Song, he’s got quite a few options following Saturday’s win … he’ll go out for a short break now, but will stay up at Washpool Lodge in Queensland and try and catch some of that sunshine.

“Brave Song will most likely be targeted at those new million dollar sprints in November: The Hunter at Newcastle and The Gong at Kembla.

“He’s always been an ‘eye catcher’ … a magnificent physical type and a really good mover. Basically ticks all the boxes. He’s from the first crop of Your Songs and while a lot of them go early, as Brave Song did, they seem to get even better as they mature.

“Brave Song is certainly on an upward trend and I really think he can take it to the next level.”

HOOFNOTE: It was announced last week that Yulong Investments has again secured the coveted ‘slot’ for Triple Crown’s star performer, Redzel, in this year’s $14 million The Everest.

The only horse to win the two runnings of The Everest thus far, Redzel has just recently returned to work after a mixed autumn campaign which yielded no wins but included seconds in the Group Two Challenge and Victory Stakes.

“We’re rapt with the way Redzel’s come back,” Ward adds. “He had a few niggling problems last time in which we’ve got sorted and he’s really got that old attitude back. The plan at this stage is for him to resume in the (Group Three) Concorde Stakes (over 1000m at Royal Randwick) in September.”

Redzel won the Concorde last year when resuming, then ran fifth in the Group Two Premiere later that month before going on to capture the Everest.

• by Greg Tobin (AusHorse)

In-form sprinter Brave Song has produced three blinding runs this preparation for three very close 2nds. It is fair to say all three runs were winning performances without actually winning as each time he drew the unfriendly outside barriers and by default ended up too far back and giving very good horses like Trekking too many lengths head-start.

Saturday’s WJ Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm maps very differently for Brave Song. This time he has drawn barrier 1 and jockey Blake Shinn will have the opportunity to have him a bit closer in the run. Triple Crown’s Chris Ward says “It is a quality field with some very talented runners. It is a Group 3 race after-all but in saying that, it probably looks a two horse race on paper. Brave Song and Victorem look the main hopes to me and they have drawn next to each other. No doubt both horses will need the right luck at the right time to find the gaps when needed.”

Brave Song’s closing sectionals have been nothing short of exceptional all preparation and Victorem was impressive in winning the Hinkler last start. “Both horses tend to get back and flash home late, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see them coming home together in what may be a ding-dong battle to the line. We wouldn’t swap Brave Song for anyone and Blake is in outstanding form at the moment. It’s going to be a great race.” Ward said.

MISTEED, the 3yo filly by Exceed And Excel, had to show her scintillating turn-of-foot on Wednesday to score a stunning win at Canterbury. Jockey Blake Shinn had her travelling beautifully in a mid-field position but half way down the straight it looked as though she might be a good thing beaten. It wasn’t until inside the last 100m that a split came and she exploded through for what was a comfortable win on the line. Misteed is a very talented filly and relishes the wet track conditions which is a big bonus at this time of year. We should be in for a nice preparation with her.

Congratulations to her excited owners and well done to Snowden Racing and Blake Shinn!

THE DUAL Everest winner Redzel will have a $1 million race named after him after Racing NSW announced further injections of prize money to the Everest Carnival for spring 2019.

The race, known as the ‘Winners’ Stakes, will be named after the Everest winner from the corresponding year, and will be run over 1300m at Rosehill Gardens under set weights and penalties, on the same card as the new $7.5 million Golden Eagle on November 2. For the 2019 edition, the race will therefore be known as The Redzel Stakes.

Redzel, who took both the inaugural running of The Everest in 2017 and retained his title in 2018, in front of a record crowd at Royal Randwick, is now the second highest prize money earner in Australian Racing history, with $15.56 million in Stakes earnings.

The announcement of a supporting race comes amid further changes to The Everest Carnival announced on Monday, with two new standalone meetings at Kembla Grange and Newcastle both featuring $1 million races, as well as additional races that include the $500,000 Silver Eagle, a lead up race for the 4YOs into the Golden Eagle to be run over 1300m, and the Hot Danish Stakes – a $500,000 event over 1400m for the fillies and mares.

Total prize money for The Everest Carnival now stands at a colossal $45 million, with The Everest now boasting a prize pool of $14 million. Click here for a full list of changes to the spring program.

BRAVE SONG will look to give Triple Crown owners Group-race glory on consecutive weekends when he takes on the Group 2 Moreton Cup at Doomben on Saturday.

Following on from Military Zone’s superb success in the Group 3 Fred Best last weekend, Brave Song arrives in Brisbane with every chance of becoming Triple Crown’s 12th individual Group-race winner after two runner-up performances in Stakes company this preparation.

The latest of those was at Scone in the Luskin Star Stakes, as the leading son of Your Song rattled home from the rear but was just enable to catch the winner Trekking.

He’ll have to contend with another wide barrier draw here as he jumps from the widest alley on Saturday, however trainer Peter Snowden feels he has every chance of coming away successful.

“He’s been nice and bright in his work,” said Snowden. “He needs a little of luck from that draw in what’s a very good field but we’ve got an excellent rider on board in James McDonald and the way he’s been performing of late gives him every chance on Saturday.

“If he’s able to get right run we know he’s good late and we feel he’s up to this company.”

A strong contingent take their place at Rosehill for the Triple Crown team, with Reelem In Ruby chasing a second win of her preparation in the Fillies & Mares handicap over 1400m, while Onslaught and Poetic Charmer return first up in the Benchmark 88 Handicap over 1200m. Island Missile will look to build on his excellent second first up when stepping up to the 1500m tomorrow.