By Ray Hickson
There seems to be no shortage of promising fillies in Peter Snowden’s care at present and he’ll produce what he believes is another when Nazwah steps up at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Peter Snowden (Pic: Bradley Photos)
Snowden unveiled a spring hopeful in the Emirates Park colours in Amreekiyah on Wednesday, who made it three from three, and he says Nazwah has similar potential.
The filly made her debut with a dominant all the way win at Gosford, as a $1.70 chance, two weeks ago and Snowden said she’s continuing to take to the racing caper.
“She was a hot little pocket rocket early days but she seems to have settled right down, especially the last four or five weeks,’’ Snowden said.
“She’s really changed and come of age. It’s coming through in her work and her whole attitude in the stable too, she’s more relaxed and eating better. She does her work not so intensely.”
Nazwah, $2.15 with TAB on Thursday in the Keeneland Yearling Sale Handicap (1100m), was particularly professional in her first-up win and Snowden said she appears to have thrived.
There’s high expectations on a filly with her pedigree and it’s more than likely if she is to win again that she’ll enjoy a break before Snowden tests the deeper end of the three-year-old fillies pool to add some valuable black type to her name.
She’s out of a dual Group 3 winner in Najoom and is therefore a half-sister to Group 1 winner Charm Stone and another stakes winner in Najmaty.
“She’s done everything right since that run, she’s trained on well and she’s eaten really well,’’ he said.
“She looks a picture so there’s no reason not to run.
“It’s a great family, she has a really good pedigree. She’ll probably have a little breather after Saturday but she’s sure to poke her head up somewhere through the spring carnival.”
Snowden will be hoping Cassiel can enjoy a smoother run in the ATC Thank You Owners Handicap (1100m) after he found himself working outside the speed when runner-up two weeks ago.
The gelding, who had won his first two runs this preparation, has a wide alley to contend with but he did find himself three wide from barrier five last time with the trainer saying a slightly slow start brought him undone.
“They went very quick up front then they eased midrace and got him up on the bit,’’ he said.
“When he can lead on his own he can go at his own tempo to suit himself but he didn’t get the lead.
“The two leaders ran last and second last and he was left in front but he gave a good kick when he was challenged at the furlong.
“It’s good to see him have a good crack.”
That’s not being unfair to Cassiel as Snowden has long said he’s been a horse with some talent but it's taken a bit of time for his courage to develop.
Whether stablemate Braveheart takes his place in the race won’t need to be decided until there are three scratchings and Snowden said he’s itching to get the gelding into a race with some tempo.
Braveheart was placed behind Axius and Epic Proportions first-up after being gelded but wobbled around the turn second-up at Canterbury after settling closer than planned.
Nazwah wins at Gosford on July 10
“He jumped too well at Canterbury and found himself pulling his head off and he just doesn’t race well that way,’’ he said.
“Put him in a fast run race he’s a lot better chance. If he settles, he’s a handy horse. No-one’s seen it yet, there’s glimpses in a couple of his runs but he’s definitely got some talent.”
The three-year-old is third emergency and drawn barrier 16 which isn’t ideal given Snowden’s desire for him to draw well and settle.
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting