No barrier for Extensible in Winter Stakes

Peter Snowden is confident Extensible can capitalise on a kind barrier draw when she forms part of the stable’s three-pronged attack on the Winter Stakes at Rosehill.

While Listed Civic Stakes-winning stablemate Gold Symphony is considered Peter and Paul Snowden’s leading hope in the Listed 1400m feature on Saturday, Extensible benefits from barrier two.

“She’s a good mare. She’s just had no luck from bad draws,” Snowden said.

“It’s the first time she’s drawn a decent gate for ages. She’s got no weight on her back (53kg) either so she’s in with a great chance.”

Extensible was on the third line of betting with the TAB as a $7 chance on Thursday, and Snowden thought she was more than capable of improving on a disappointing eighth in the Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill on July 1.

After jumping from barrier 11 she was stuck wide throughout and trailed Gold Symphony by more than four lengths.

“She’s got the three alley so she’ll be in the first four of five and run particularly well,” Snowden said.

Two of her four career wins have been at Rosehill and she started this preparation by finishing second to Spectroscope in a Benchmark Handicap (1350m) in May.

Topweight Gold Symphony ($4.60) has drawn barrier 12 in the 13-strong field, hardly an impediment after the four-year-old won the Civic Stakes from an outside gate.

He reunites with new Sydney jockey’s premiership leader Hugh Bowman with the 59kg Snowden’s only concern after Gold Symphony carried 56.5kg in the Civic Stakes.

“He’s got to give them a lot of weight with a 53kg minimum, but he’s a good horse going well,” Snowden said.

Snowden said Gold Symphony would step up in distance for the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill on July 29 and then head for a spell.

The Snowden’s also have six-year-old Snippets Land back from the Queensland winter carnival but the $15 chance is expected to find it tough after copping barrier 10.

“He’s drawn badly again. Bad alleys have cost him,” Snowden said.

The father and son training duo has nine runners spread throughout the meeting and outside the Winter Stakes, Snowden highlighted four-year-old Suspense in a Benchmark Handicap (1200m), citing his two wins from three attempts first-up.