My Country sticks to familiar territory

Peter and Paul Snowden have a clearer idea of My Country’s limitations as the mare goes deeper into her fifth preparation at Rosehill.

The father-and-son training partnership have previously started My Country over 1400 metres in black-type company but she will not go beyond 1200 this campaign.

“We’re going to keep her to six furlongs this time. We tried to string her out and it just doesn’t suit her,” Paul Snowden said.

My Country wrapped up her last two preparations with unplaced runs in the Listed Lexus Hybrid Plate and Group Three James HB Carr Stakes,both over 1400m.

The four-year-old was unplaced when she resumed in a Benchmark 80 Handicap (1200m) early last month and second-up recorded her third career win in a Benchmark 88 Handicap over the same distance.

“It was a very solid win the other day. She was back off a good genuine tempo and got to the line late,” Snowden said.

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My Country tackles a Benchmark 90 Handicap as the TAB’s early $3.90 favourite on Saturday and if she lives up to that billing a trip to Melbourne beckons.

“There’s not a lot of six furlong races for mares down there but there’s an 1100 metre race on Oaks day and a 1300 for mares at Sandown,” Snowden said.

The trainer also expects improvement from Astara when she lines up in a Benchmark 83 Handicap (1400m) following a forgettable run on a wet track two weeks ago.

“She doesn’t like soft tracks and there was a patch at the 600 where if you weren’t travelling into it, you definitely weren’t coming out of it,” Snowden said.

“She’s drawn the inside alley and with firmer footing hopefully we can see an improved performance.”

Snowden said he was also looking forward to Neutrality’s debut when the colt steps out in the 2YO Maiden (1100m).

“He’s only had the one trial so he’s still learning his craft and obviously after Saturday we’ll judge him on what he does,” Snowden said.