King out to make immediate impression

Peter Snowden admits he was close to sending $1 million yearling King for a spell without racing this spring but has been persuaded otherwise by the change in the two-year-old since he has been wearing blinkers in training.

The colt is favourite to make a winning start to his career in Saturday’s Group Three Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington after impressing in a barrier trial at Randwick on October 17 and again in a jump-out at Flemington last Friday.

King, by Written Tycoon out of Brilliant Bisc, fetched $1 million at this year’s Easter sale in Sydney and Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, said the colt possessed good gate speed and was fast.

King finished down the track in a trial at Rosehill early last month before the blinkers went on.

“Certainly the application of blinkers have turned him right around,” Snowden said.

“He was about five minutes off getting on the float to go out. I was a bit disappointed with his work but one morning I tried blinkers on him and it made a hell of a difference.

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“His trial at Randwick proved that and then I trialled him again at Flemington last Friday and he went excellent.

“I’m really happy with the horse.”

Snowden believes barrier one on Saturday is a huge advantage for King as it gives the unraced youngster a chance to have the fence as a guide.

“He’s a little, very strong nuggety Written Tycoon colt that does possess good gate speed,” Snowden said.

“Drawing barrier one is a big plus to have the fence to go to in his first start.

‘If he does everything right he’s definitely in with a great chance.”