Trainer Peter Snowden expects his Group 1 winning filly Guelph to bounce back to her best during the Sydney Autumn Carnival after a disappointing first up sixth to Sweet Idea in the Group 2 $175,000 Red Lea Chickens Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last Saturday.

Peter Snowden expects Guelph to bounce back after Light Fingers defeat. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Guelph was having her first start since winning the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 16 with Snowden attributing her defeat to the fact that she was ridden too close to the leaders.

Snowden spoke to Hugh Bowman after the race and expressed his opinion that Guelph should have been ridden further back in the Light Fingers Stakes as is her usual racing pattern.

Guelph had a very tough run and was posted three wide in the second bunch of horses coming to the home turn but found wanting at the three hundred metres mark and didn’t produce her trade mark finishing burst.

“Guelph was ridden out of her comfort zone,’’ Snowden told The Daily Telegraph.

“She is not a speed horse, that is not her racing style.

“For the punters who backed her it was disappointing but she is a superstar and I’m confident she will bounce back.’’

“Hughie made a mistake by not going back on her.”

“We talked about it and he put his hand up. It’s just not the way to ride her.”

Snowden will push on with Guelph’s Autumn campaign with her next start likely to be the Group 2 $175,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on March 8.

Guelph has won her last four appearances in Group 1 company and Snowden is aiming the Exceed And Excel filly towards the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 22.

Apart from her Thousand Guineas win last Spring, Guelph also won the Group 1 $400,000 Coolmore Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 5 and that followed her two Group 1 wins as a two year old in the Autumn in the $500,000 Inglis Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) and the $400,000 Moet & Chandon 150th Champagne Stakes (1600m) both at Randwick.