Team Snowden have Stravigo and Flippant in the 2015 Wyong Magic Millions Stakes field and Paul Snowden believes that both horses are genuine winning chances in the $100,000 this afternoon.
Flippant is one of two Team Snowden-trained horses in the 2015 Wyong Magic Millions Stakes field. Photo by: Steve Hart
Stravigo was an inconsistent performer as a two-year-old, but he made his debut as a three-year-old with a strong win in the More Than Just Winning Maiden (1100m) at Canterbury on November 27 after impressing in two barrier trials.
Snowden told Racing Ahead that he was happy with the way that Stravigo performed first-up, but he believes that the son of Stratum is capable of going to another level with blinkers on in the 2015 Wyong Magic Millions Stakes.
“I think that they are both great chances,” Snowden said.
“Stravigo won really well first-up, but he has always been a horse that we felt could use a bit of headgear and that is why he has the blinkers on today.
“I think he is going to respond really quickly with these and it gives him a great chance.”
Flippant looked like she could develop into a star filly when she took out the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m) at Scone on May 16 and the Listed Lancaster Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 6, but she was restricted to just one race start during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and she knocked up badly after being caught wide in the early stages of the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 17.
The Hinchinbrook filly was not overly impressive in a barrier trial over 900 metres at Rosehill Gardens on November 24, but Snowden was delighted with her performance in a trial over 794 metres at Warwick Farm on December 4 and he is confident that she can bounce back to her best in the Wyong Magic Millions Stakes.
“Flippant is a really quality filly and it just didn’t pan out her only start in the Carnival in Sydney,” Snowden said.
“She was caught four or five wide for the whole trip and obviously faded, but her trial leading into this was quite strong.
“Off an awkward draw she is a go forward horse and I give both horses a really good chance of winning.”
Flippant is currently available at 2015 Wyong Magic Millions Stakes odds of $4.20 with Ladbrokes, while Stravigo has drifted from $7.50 out to $10 in the lead-up to the race.
