Jon Snow gets visitor’s barrier draw in Tulloch Stakes

Kiwi colt Jon Snow has been given the visitor’s barrier draw and will jump from the outside of the thirteen horse field in the Group 2 $200,000 Power Distribution Australia Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Damian Lane, above, rides Kiwi colt Jon Snow in the Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Damian Lane, above, rides Kiwi colt Jon Snow in the Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Jon Snow earned himself a trip across the Tasman after running third to Gingernuts in the Group 1 NZ$1m New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 4.

Co-trainer Murray Baker said that the prospect of another rain affected track at Rosehill on Saturday will be in the colt’s favour and the New Zealand Derby form has risen to the surface in the Sydney Autumn Carnival with Gingernuts donkey licking his rivals to win the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday.

“We are very happy with him,”  Baker tolf racing.com.

“He’s got a great temperament and has handled the travel well.

“He has just kept stepping up and it was a good run in the Derby. He wouldn’t mind a bit of juice in the track.”

Jon Snow, who is prepared by Murray and co-trainer Andrew Forsman, is only the winner of one race from ten starts but has proven that he is one of the best three year olds racing in New Zealand and as well as being placed in the New Zealand Derby, ran third to Hall Of Fame in the Group 1 NZ$225,000 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on January 14.

Melbourne jockey Damian Lane takes over the reins in the Tulloch Stakes from leading New Zealand rider Matthew Cameron who has been on Jon Snow at his last six starts.

New Zealand Derby runner up Rising Red is trained by Kiwis Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and even though they have relocated to Cranbourne in Victoria, their three year old gelding was also given the visitor’s treatment and will jump from barrier twelve with Make Zahra to ride.

Prized Icon looks set to back up in the Tulloch Stakes after finishing down the track on the heavy when tenth to Gingernuts in the Rosehill Guineas and the James Cummings trained colt has drawn barrier nine with Glyn Schofield retaining the mount while his stablemate Rock And Swing will jump from barrier eight with Benton Avdulla in the saddle.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.