Sydney Cup On The Agenda For Disclaimer

Disclaimer is closing in on a return to racing and trainer Peter Snowden has revealed that the 2015 Sydney Cup will be the major autumn target for the imported stayer.

Newcastle Gold Cup winner Disclaimer has been set for the 2015 Sydney Cup by Team Snowden. Photo by: Steve Hart

Newcastle Gold Cup winner Disclaimer has been set for the 2015 Sydney Cup by Team Snowden. Photo by: Steve Hart

Disclaimer made his racing debut under the care of Sir Henry Cecil, but he was sold to Australian-based connections at the end of 2013 and joined the stable of John O’Shea before he was transferred to the care of Team Snowden when O’Shea took up the role of Godolphin head trainer.

The Dansili gelding made his debut for his new trainer with a fourth place finish in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on August and failed to fire in the Dooleys Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 16, but produced an improved performance in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) on September 5.

Disclaimer recorded his maiden race win in Australia when he scored an upset victory in the Group 3 Newcastle Cup (2300m) on September 18 and made his Group 1 debut with a fifth place finish in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on October 4 before he was sent to the spelling paddock after finishing third in the Listed City Tattersalls Club Cup (2406m) at Royal Randwick on October 18.

Snowden told Racing Ahead that he has been impressed with Disclaimer since he returned from the spelling paddock and he is confident that a race like the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11 is not beyond the promising stayer.

“Disclaimer is around two weeks off a trial,” Snowden said.

“Disclaimer I am possibly looking at the Sydney Cup with him.

“It is a tall ask as well, but I believe that he is up to that level and probably the Chairman’s will tell us what we do when we get to that run, whether we keep going further with him or we pull him up.

“He has returned in good order and he is going really well in the stable.”

Disclaimer will likely follow a tradition path to the Sydney Cup and contest race like the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m), Group 3 Manion Cup (2400m) and Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) before he makes the step-up to 3200 metres for the first time since he finished 12th in the Group 3 Queen’s Vase (3218m) during the 2013 Royal Ascot meeting.

Snowden is chasing a maiden win in the Sydney Cup after finishing sixth with three-year-old Tupac Amaru last year.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.