Peter and Paul Snowden are hoping NSW’s wet weather sticks around for two of its mares, who will be bidding to build on their respective black-type records in one of the feature races at the Scone carnival.
The Snowdens are looking to target the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) with Ghaanati and Mirra View, who are both proven on rain-affected ground.
The pair clashed last start in the Hawkesbury Crown won by stablemate Coco Jamboo, Ghaanati finishing a game fourth after being forced to travel wide throughout from an awkward gate.
“She had no luck at all,” Peter Snowden said.
“She was deep the whole race and got beaten three parts of a length, so I thought her effort was good.”
Mirra View finished unplaced on a firm track at Hawkesbury, but Snowden is optimistic she can turn that around on a more forgiving surface.
The mare has four wins and three placings from nine starts on rain-affected ground and is also expected to strip fitter for two runs from a spell.
“Hopefully it’s just a wet track she needs, and she might get that at Scone,” Snowden said.
“The rain came after her race the other day.
“If she gets a soft track up there, it will help her chances, and third-up will help her as well.”
Snowden said Scone wasn’t on the radar for Coco Jamboo, her connections instead keen to focus on Brisbane.
The former European made a perfect start to her Australian career with her Hawkesbury Crown win and that has prompted the Snowdens to raise the bar a little higher.
“She will go to Brisbane. We’ve got a bit of wind in the sail now,” Snowden said.
“She will probably race in the Dane Ripper and maybe the Tatt’s Tiara after that if we’re happy with her.”
The Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) is at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Handicap day, June 15, with the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) two weeks later.