Commanding Wit To Contest Darley Crown

Paul Snowden will have his first runner at Group level, as a trainer in his own name, if Commanding Wit is able to earn a start in the 2014 Darley Crown at Hawkesbury on Saturday.

Peter Snowden is set to face son Paul in the 2014 Darley Crown at Hawkesbury on Saturday.

Peter Snowden is set to face son Paul in the 2014 Darley Crown at Hawkesbury on Saturday. Photo by: Taron Clarke

Commanding Wit made her racing debut back in September of 2012 and has found her best form this preparation; breaking her maiden with a win at Wyong before scoring another impressive victory in the Well Done 4Tracks4Kids Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury on March 12.

Snowden told Racing New South Wales that he has only had Commanding Wit in his care for a week, after setting up a new stable at Royal Randwick, but said that he has been happy with the progress that she has made and does not believe she will be disgraced at Group level.

“I’ve only had her for a week after John O’Shea trained her,” Snowden said.

“She has gone through her grades and deserves a crack at something Black Type like the Darley Crown.

“The owners have had this race in mind for some time so hopefully a few above us in the ballot order drop off and we sneak into the field.

“She is lightly-framed but John said she has always been like that.

“Obviously John has done most of the work and my job is just to keep her well and happy.

“John has freshened her up since she won at Canterbury Park in March and she barrier trialed really well at Randwick last Tuesday.”

Snowden is set to clash with his father Peter in the 2014 Darley Crown this weekend; with the Darley team including Cameo, Pleiades, La Pieta and Seaside in the field for the race that they have won four times in the past six years.

Cameo will be returning to the races for the first time since she finished towards the tail of the field in the Group 3 Newmarket Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle on March 19, while Pleiades and Pieta will both be having their first race start since finishing in the placings in the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford on January 10.

Seaside has not been seen at the races since she finished fourth in the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 1 and is chasing her maiden win at black type level.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.