Peter Snowden has both Hot Snitzel and Charlie Boy in the 2015 Stradbroke Handicap field and the leading trainer is thrilled with both horses heading into the Group 1 event at Doomben tomorrow.
Hot Snitzel is one of two Team Snowden-trained horses in the 2015 Stradbroke Handicap field. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Hot Snitzel has been somewhat of a forgotten horse heading into the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m), but the talented sprinter is taking winning form into the race following his maiden win at Group 1 level in the BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on May 9.
The son of Snitzel has not raced since his BTC Cup victory and he has not run at a distance greater than 1200 metres since he was a two-year-old, but Snowden told Racing Ahead that the five-year-old heads into the 2015 Stradbroke Handicap in outstanding condition and he won’t have any trouble running out a strong 1350 metres.
“He is really well,” Snowden said.
“It was always our plan to give him a month between from that to the Stradbroke, with a little trial in between.
“He is a really good fresh horse now and the fresher you keep him the better result you are going to get.
“I have been very pleased with him since, he had a good trial here a fortnight ago and he presents in good order tomorrow.
“Doomben the way that it is and a short track – I don’t think that he is going to have a problem with the journey tomorrow.
“I think he is in with a great chance.”
Charlie Boy has always shown plenty of potential, but he has gone to another level under the care of Team Snowden and has been one of the best-backed runners in 2015 Stradbroke Handicap betting markets.
The four-year-old scored his debut win for Team Snowden when he took out the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on May 9 and he stamped himself as a leading Stradbroke Handicap contender when he was only narrowly denied in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) at the same venue a fortnight ago.
Snowden said that he was delighted with the performance of Charlie Boy in the Doomben 10,000 and he believes the five kilogram drop in weight gives the Myboycharlie gelding every possible chance in the Stradbroke Handicap.
“I was really wrapped with his run,” Snowden said.
“I never thought that he was a weight-for-age horse and he is dropping five kilos tomorrow, so I think it gives him a great chance.
“He has had a good prep, everything has gone good up until now and all his runs have been good.
“Fourth-up tomorrow he should be nearly as good as I can get him and he looks in fantastic order.”
Charlie Boy is currently available at 2015 Stradbroke Handicap odds of $7.50, while Hot Snitzel is priced at the lenghty quote of $21.
