No Golden Slipper for Snitzkraft

Trainer Kelso Wood will shy away from the rich Sydney Autumn Carnival and recommend that last Saturday’s impressive Sunshine Coast winner Snitzktaft not run in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 18.

Houtzen, above, is the early favourite for the Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Houtzen, above, is the early favourite for the Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Snitzkraft collected his second win from four race starts with a comfortable two and a quarter lengths victory in a 1200m 2yo Plate at the Sunshine Coast Metropolitan meeting but Wood said that the Snitzel colt wasn’t ready for a tough Golden Slipper campaign.

“I wouldn’t consider the Golden Slipper as he’s not right in the head just yet,” Wood said.

“I recommend that he goes straight to the paddock.”

“He’s potentially a very, very good horse. I wouldn’t like to elaborate and say he will be the best, but potentially, he’s very exciting. He has started hanging a bit, but it’s only immaturity.

“He will go for a spell, come back and be a different horse.”

Wood believes that Snitzkraft will have no trouble handling distances beyond 1200m and has his eyes on a Brisbane Winter Carnival campaign and if he races up to the master trainer’s expectations, a trip to Melbourne during the Spring is also on the agenda.

“On his breeding, he might get a mile as his dam was a very good mare who won over ground,” Wood said.

Snitzkraft was sent out as the $1.50 favourite at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday on the back of an eight and a quarter lengths win in a 1200m 2yo Maiden at Doomben on January 18 and winning jockey Luke Dittman gave punters no cause for concern and after settling behind the pace, eased out in the straight and let the Snitzel colt win as he liked.

The Toby Edmonds trained Houtzen currently heads the market order for the Golden Slipper at $6 with Ladbrokes.com.au following her all the way win in the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 14.

The Gary Portelli trained She Will Reign is next in the market order at $8 ahead of Team Snowden’s smart colt Khan and Gerald Ryan’s Menari at $13.

Early Golden Slipper market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $6 Houtzen, $8 She Will Reign, $13 Khan, Menari $15 Invincible Star, $17 Dinnigan, From Within, Tulip, Veranillo, $21 Condor Heroes, Jorda, Kanga’s Eye, $26 Exceeds, Lucky Louie, Luiza, Oscietra, Madeenaty, Serena Bay, Single Bullet, Vinland, $34 or more the rest.

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.