Shooting To Win Progressing Nicely Ahead Of Return

Trainer Peter Snowden has confirmed that Shooting To Win will likely trial next Thursday at Royal Randwick as he builds towards the start of his 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign.

Shooting To Win has not been seen at the races since his memorable win in the 2014 Caulfield Guineas. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Shooting To Win has not been seen at the races since his memorable win in the 2014 Caulfield Guineas. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Shooting To Win was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival preparation with an upset win over Rich Enuff in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 11 and Snowden said that the Northern Meteor colt had thrived in his stint away from his stable.

“Shooting To Win will probably be the first of our main horses to trial,” Snowden told Sky Racing HQ

“He is going nicely, he is going along the right way and fingers crossed he can have a good prep.

“He went out at a good time and he certainly wasn’t flat.

“He knew that he had a solid run in the Guineas, but he came through it really well and he spelled well.

“He is a real athlete of a horse and he just thrives on work.

“He is a great doer in the stable and he looks very rosy at the moment.”

Snowden is yet to decide on the exact path that Shooting To Win will follow during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, but he expects the three-year-old to return to racing in either the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 7 or the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on February 21.

Shooting To Win was strong on the line when he made his racing debut over a mile in the Caulfield Guineas, but Snowden revealed that he does not plan to extend the leading stallion prospect past 1600 metres; with the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m), Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m), Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) and Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) all potential options for the colt.

“There are plenty of options for him up to a mile,” Snowden said.

“The first time that he got to a mile was in the Guineas and he was very strong at it, but I think there are enough options for him there between seven furlongs and a mile that are good solid races for him.

“If he can be competitive and win them it will certainly add value.”

Shooting To Win made a slow start to his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m), but he showed his talented when he finished in the placings in both the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) and the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) before he scored impressive wins in both the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) and the Caulfield Guineas.

The three-year-old has already accumulated almost $900,000 in prizemoney for connections and is set to earn even more when he is retired from racing to stand at stud.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.