Trainer Peter Snowden admits that Earthquake is not fully wound up for the Group 2 $300,000 Parramatta Leagues Club Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday but is relying on her class will help her get across the line.
Earhquake is not fully wound up for the Reisling Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Snowden is following the same routine that he did before Earthquakle scored an effortless win in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22.
The top trainer gave the Exceed And Excel filly one run leading into the Caulfield Group 1 for the two year olds when she won the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 8 and he will use the Reisling Stakes as her only run into the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 5.
“It’s as I did in the Diamond, using one run to get there, and it worked last time and I am hoping it works again,” Snowden told the Sportsman.
Snowden admits that Earthquake is not fully wound up for Saturday and will take a lot of improvement out of the run but says that her class will help her keep her undefeated record intact.
Earthquake, already a short priced favourite for the Golden Slipper, will shorten up even more if she can score her fourth win from as many starts.
“Her class will take her a long way, she is not fully wound up and I’ve used this run to get her to the Slipper,” Snowden said.
Earthquake can emulate the deeds of Elusive Quality colt Sepoy who Snowden prepared to win the Golden Slipper – Blue Diamond Stakes double in 2011, but said that the filly and the colt are two different sorts of two year olds.
“He was wound right up when we went to the Diamond because it was an important goal for him,” Snowden said.
“I had to freshen him, he almost got wrung out and to keep him up for six weeks was difficult. He only got beaten a head and on that day it pelted down and he slide throughout the race.
Sepoy suffered his only defeat as a two year old when beaten by Smart Missile in the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill before going on to score a comfortable two lengths win in the Golden Slipper.
Even though Earthquake dominated the two year olds in the Blue Diamond Stakes, Snowden is hoping the filly will be at a different level for the Golden Slipper.
“The preparation that she had for the Diamond wasn’t spot on, but it wasn’t rushed and it was timed to get there. I am hoping I can get her a bit better in the Slipper,” Snowden said.
Darley’s number one rider Kerrin McEvoy will be having his first race ride on Earthquake in the Reisling Stakes after missing her Melbourne campaign because of a knee injury and was required to ride in Melbourne when she scored her debut win over 1000m at Randwick on November 9.
Ladbrokes.com.au have posted Earthquake at the short quote of $1.70 for the Reisling Stakes with the Team Hawkes trained Mossfun the next in the betting at $4.60.
Earthquake’s stablemate Memorial is also in the mix at $8.50 ahead of the Gai Waterhouse trained Twirl at $9.50.
While in Golden Slipper betting Earthquake is a clear cut $2.75 favourite ahead of Mossfun at $8.
