Sydney colt Shooting To Win proved too strong for the short priced favourite Rich Enuff in winning the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield today.
Shooting To Win upsets the favourite Rich Enuff to win the Group 1 Caulfiled Guineas. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
Rich Enuff ($1.80) had set the pace from the outset with Michael Rodd electing to go forward from a wide barrier while James McDonald was able to give Shooting To Win ($7.50) the last crack at the leader after settling just off the pace.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Almalad started to apply the pressure to Rich Enuff at the 600m but just as the Ken Keys trained colt fought off Almalad at the 300m, McDonald and Shooting To Win appeared on the scene and proved too strong in the run to the line.
One of the outsiders of the field $101 chance Wandjina also made up ground at the finish to find the third placegetters stall.
Rich Enuff had been all the rage following a hat trick of wins including a last start victory in the Group 3 $175,000 BECK Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 28.
While the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Shooting To Win arrived in Melbourne in great order after winning the Group 2 $200,000 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on September 27.
Today’s win was another major achievement for McDonald to win his second Group 1 in Melbourne after winning on It’s A Dundeel in the 2013 Group 1 $400,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.
McDonald has taken all before him since he based himself in Sydney over eighteen months and was very happy to add another Melbourne Group 1 win to his record.
“I haven’t had a lot luck in it,” McDonald said.
“It was one race that I wanted to make up. It was great to get back on him and do the job.”
“I haven’t had a lot of luck down here, it’s a very hard carnival to break into.”
McDonald was full of praise for runner up Rich Enuff who tried hard to go with Shooting To Win in the shadows of the post.
“He was very gallant in defeat. Actually fifty metres from the post I thought he was coming back to get me,” McDonald said
Rodd knew that Rich Enuff would be vulnerable when he failed to settle in the middle stages but was still very proud of the colt’s effort.
“He didn’t do himself any favours once we crossed,” Rodd said.
“He didn’t spit the bridle out and I just wrestled with him all the way down the back there.”
“Really all he needed to do was relax for a furlong and he wins the race but he was still travelling coming to the 600m.”
“He quickened up nice, but he was just a sitting shot running like that.”
Shooting To Win has provided the father and son training team their first Group 1 win together since Peter Snowden resigned as the head trainer for Darley in May and set up base at Randwick with Paul .
“We really trusted his ability and he shone through today, thank God,” Paul Snowden said.
