Connections have confirmed that Snow Sky is set to go into the 2015 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 3 without another lead-up run.
Snow Sky beat Melbourne Cup contender Hartnell (pictured) when the duo raced in the Derby Trial last year. Photo by: Steve Hart
Snow Sky was included in the nominations for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) that were released a fortnight ago and he was allocated the top weight of 58 kilograms when the Caulfield Cup weights were announced yesterday afternoon, but Teddy Grimthorpe, the Racing Manager for owner Khalid Abdullah, indicated that the Nayef entire will not contest the Group 1 event and will instead make his Australian racing debut in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
“The plan at this stage is to take Snow Sky to the Melbourne Cup where he will head without a prep,” Grimthorpe told The Racing Post.
“Sir Michael had half thought about the Irish St Leger for him but thinks it best if we keep him fresh.
“It’s exciting for the Prince as we certainly have not had a runner in my time with him and as a dual Group 2 winner we think Snow Sky has more to give at the top level.”
Snow Sky made his racing debut in August of 2013 and he did not record a maiden race win until his third race start before he made his debut at the highest level of racing with an eighth place finish in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy (1609m) at Doncaster on October 26.
The entire beat Hartnell to win the Listed Derby Trial Stakes (2310m) at Lingfield on May 10 last year and he was not beaten far by Eagle Top or Adelaide in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes (2414m) at Royal Ascot before he returned to winning form in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes (2414m) at Goodwood on July 30.
Snow Sky finished in the placings in both the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes (2414m) at York on August 20 and the Group 1 Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes (2937m) at Doncaster on September 13, but he was unable to perform at his best in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin in December.
The four-year-old started his 2015 racing season with impressive wins in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (2816m) at York on May 15 and the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2414m) at Royal Ascot on June 20, but he failed to fire in the Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2414m) at the same venue on July 25.
Snow Sky is currently available at 2015 Melbourne Cup odds of $17 and is on the fourth line of betting behind Fame Game ($9), Max Dynamite ($15) and Order Of St George ($15).
