Team Snowden have both Defcon and King Of War in the 2016 Silver Slipper Stakes field and co-trainer Paul Snowden is happy with both colts head of the Group 2 event at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.
Blake Shinn has been booked to ride Defcon in the 2016 Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Defcon has had a disrupted preparation for the Silver Slipper Stakes and he was scratched from the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield last weekend after he scoped with a little bit of mucus, but he showed that he was ready for a return to racing after trialing fairly at Rosehill Gardens on Monday.
Snowden is now happy with the physical condition of Defcon and he revealed that jockey Blake Shinn may even elect to take up the running on the son of Choisir in the early stages of the Silver Slipper Stakes.
“He’s drawn outside in a small field so we can be a little bit tactical,” Snowden said.
“He can settle anywhere, he can lead if he has to. He has no pattern, it’s only his second start at the races.
“He’s trialled since his last start and has been kept at the mark with that trial.”
King Of War failed to fire when he made his racing debut in The Viridian Lightbridge Plate (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on October 31, but he has trailed impressive in the lead-up to the Silver Slipper Stakes and he scored an impressive victory in a barrier trial over 900 metres at Rosehill Gardens on February 15.
Snowden admits that King Of War will face a very stiff challenge in the Silver Slipper Stakes, but he is hopeful that the Exceed And Excel colt can produce a credible performance in the Group 2 race.
“He’s a nice horse having his first start against quality opposition so it’s certainly hard, but every weekend will be the same, you’ll run into horses like this,” Snowden said.
“It’s up to them if they’re good enough for a Slipper preparation.
“He’ll improve off the back of the run physically and mentally.”
Godolphin colt Astern is currently available at 2016 Silver Slipper odds of $1.50 with Ladbrokes and he is a clear favourite from Defcon ($4), Team Hawkes-trained Mount Panorama ($8.50), King Of War ($12), promising filly Rather Sweet ($31) and extreme outsider Rafha’s Choice ($81).
