The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Defcon has drawn the outside barrier in the Group 2 $250,000 UVEX Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden will saddle up Defcon in the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Daniel Costello.
With only seven two year olds accepting for the Silver Slipper Stakes, the task of jumping from the outside alley is not that much of a disadvantage.
Peter Snowden has indicated during the week that Blake Shinn would go forward on Defcon in the early stages and the small field should do nothing to change that plan.
“I want to see him take up a forward spot, relax well and we’ll try and use that turn of foot he has at the right time of the race, hoping it’s good enough to get him home,” Peter Snowden told Racenet.
“Blake knows the horse inside out so it’s important for him to be there. He knows his strengths and I’m sure he’ll ride him to those on Saturday.”
The Snowdens had to abandon a trip to Melbourne last week with Defcon who came down with a virus, forcing his scratching from the Group 3 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Caulfield, and also ruling out a start in the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 27.
But the Choisir colt has responded to treatment and is back to full health for Saturday’s assignment and a bold showing could tempt the Snowdens to push onto the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 19
“All is in order, I trialled him to be sure of that and he’s come through the trial nicely so looking forward to Saturday,” Peter Snowden said.
“I’m really happy with how he’s going.
“Physically and mentally he’s as close as I’m going to get him. He should present in good order on Saturday.”
Defcon has had one race start for a second to Tessera in the Group 3 $150,000 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on January 30.
The Snowdens will also saddle up King Of War who has drawn closer to the inside at barrier two.
One of Defcon’s main rivals in the Silver Slipper Stakes is the John O’Shea trained Astern, who came up with barrier five in the small field.
Hugh Bowman takes over on Astern from James McDonald who has decided to ride the stable’s star three year old Exosphere in the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Mount Panorama from the Team Hawkes stable has drawn the inside gate with Tommy Berry to ride while the Bede Murray trained Rafha’s Choice will jump from gate six.
Silver Slipper Stakes field: 1 Rafha’s Choice (6), 2 Astern (5), 3 Defcon (7), 4 Pittsburgh (3), 5 Mount Panorama (1), 6 King Of War (2), 7 Rather Sweet (4).
