Hot Snitzel and Charlie Boy joined Team Snowden last week and are set to make their debut for their new stable in the 2015 Hall Mark Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend.
Hot Snitzel will defend his Hall Mark Stakes title at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Hot Snitzel and Charlie Boy were both previously prepared by Gerald Ryan, but owners Triple Crown Syndication elected to transfer the talented duo to Team Snowden for the rest of their autumn preparation.
Co-trainer Paul Snowden told Racing Ahead that Hot Snitzel and Charlie Boy had both arrived in excellent condition and he praised Ryan for the work that he has done with the pair.
“Full credit to Gerald, we have only had them for about week.
“It is disappointing for Gerald, but obviously with the Triple Crown guys they offered them to us and we took them with open arms.
“They did a little bit of work this morning and obviously we are still learning about them and there is no doubt we will learn more on Saturday and thereafter.
“They have both travelled over in very good order.”
Charlie Boy has not been seen at the races since he finished sixth behind Fast ‘N’ Rocking in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown on November 15, but he performed well in two barrier trials at Rosehill Gardens on March 17 and March 30.
The Myboycharlie gelding has not recorded a race win since he took out the 2013 edition of the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m), but Snowden believes that the four-year-old is forward enough to run a big race first-up and looks to have the edge over his stablemate heading into the Hall Mark Stakes.
“Just looking at them, he looks the one that is most forward of the two,” Snowden said.
“He is gelded this preparation too, which maybe suggests that his mind will be on the job this time.”
Hot Snitzel started his autumn campaign with a seventh place finish behind Heart Testa in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 14 and he finished a disappointing tenth after leading in the early stages of the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Warwick Farm on February 28, but he returned to a semblance of his best form with a tough effort in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 28.
Hot Snitzel has the chance to become the first horse since Tumble On in 1989 to win the Hall Mark Stakes in back-to-back years.
