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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Peter Snowden has no plans to fast track promising mares Tuileries and Amreekiyah into black type races in the early spring but he’s hoping both take a step in that direction at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Peter Snowden (Pic: Steve Hart)

The four-year-olds will have to face off against each other in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1100m) with last week’s washout meaning Snowden couldn’t split them up as he was going to do when Tuileries came out due to needing some dental work.

While Snowden is loathe to compare them he said they have some similarities, not the least the potential to climb the ladder quickly.

“There’s no choice now the way things have been falling, they’ve got to get going. Tuileries has been a month now,’’ he said.

“They are both winners, they want to win, they are good at the end of their races. They’re tough, touch wood they are sound, and hopefully there’s some longevity there.

“I’d like to get through the grades first and get a read on how they race and how to ride them but I’m sure at some stage through the spring they’ll get to black type races.”

As Snowden mentioned, it’s been a month now since Tuileries was beaten first-up as an odds-on favourite at Rosehill on July 19 but he says the effort was outstanding.

Punter’s Intelligence data showed she ran the meeting’s second fastest last 600m of 32.99 as she ran into fourth place behind Useapin in a race that was slowly run.

“She didn’t win but everything about the race was good, the time was good and the sectionals were good and she pulled up great from it,’’ he said.

“It wasn’t just the race it was the day, the sectionals on the day. It was disappointing to get beaten and we know where it went wrong but the fact the horse ran well is enough.”

Tuileries needed to have a tooth pulled last week, which required sedation, but she’s not missed any work and as Snowden said she came through her resumption well.

She’s faced with another outside barrier and Snowden is just banking on there being a decent gallop to give her, and Amreekiyah for that matter, her chance.

“She doesn’t need to be last, she can be midfield,’’ he said.

“Race pace is about 11 and a half to 12 to a furlong, that sort of speed she’s comfortable but it’s when they slow up and run 13 it’s too slow for her and she flicks her head around.

“It’s a good quality race and hopefully she can be midfield somewhere, she won’t be far away.”

Amreekiyah is unbeaten after three starts and she did lead all the way in one of them so Snowden said she does potentially have options.

He was rapt with how she reeled in the leader as she scored first-up at Canterbury on July 23.

“There was a lot in that win and since then her work has come on again,’’ he said.

"She’s not just a backmarker, not at all, but she will need luck.”

Some race fitness is an advantage that Snowden hopes can give Grand Prairie an edge in the Listed $200,000 Drinkwise Rosebud (1100m).

Killer Kerr runs third at Rosehill on August 2

The Yulong colt was a winner first-up then chased Stardeel home when taking on older horses on the heavy at Rosehill two weeks ago.

“He has fitness on his side, that will play a big part,’’ he said.

“He has a good draw, he’s rock hard fit and handles the wet. There’s a couple of handy horses in it but from the draw he will make his own luck and no doubt be a chance.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting