Disclaimer is currently available at 2015 The Metropolitan odds of $81, but co-trainer Peter Snowden is confident that the imported stayer can produce an improved performance in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Disclaimer is the extreme outside in The Metropolitan, but trainer Peter Snowden is slightly optimistic about his winning chances. Photo by: Steve Hart
Disclaimer started his preparation with a flat effort in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens and he failed to improve when he was stepped up in distance for the Listed Wyong Cup (2080m) on September 4 and the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) on September 18.
Snowden admits that Disclaimer’s form looks fairly average on paper, but he believes that Disclaimer has had plenty of excuses during his campaign to date and he is hopeful that the Dansili gelding can return to a semblance of his best form in The Metropolitan.
“He will take his place there,” Snowden told Racing Ahead.
“On paper it looks as though he has had a few ordinary runs, but he has had some genuine excuses in a form of them.
“Last start in the Newcastle Cup he was posted three or four deep for the entire run and he had a wipe out for mine.
“He has done well since and Tim Clark had a feel of him yesterday morning and he just felt terrific.”
Disclaimer was allocated barrier six when the 2015 The Metropolitan field was released earlier this week and Snowden believes that is the perfect draw for the six-year-old.
Snowden feels that jockey Tim Clark will have plenty of options in the early stages of the race and he is hopeful that the Newcastle Gold Cup winner will be given every possible chance to show his staying credentials.
“With a better draw on Saturday I certainly think it will help his chances,” Snowden said.
“I would think that he would be midfield with cover.
“It would be the perfect spot.
“There is not a lot of speed in the race, but I think that there is enough that it will be genuinely run and that draw gives him options.
“He can get cover and put him to sleep and a mile and a half will not be a problem for him.”
Godolphin-owned Magic Hurricane is currently available at 2015 The Metropolitan odds of $4 with Ladbrokes and he is a clear favourite from David Hayes-trained Almoonqith ($6.50), Macedon Lodge-owned Chance To Dance ($8.50), Group 1 winner Beaten Up ($8.50), Newcastle Cup winner Beyond Thankful ($11) and consistent import Orbec ($11).
