Snowden upbeat about another Golden run

Paul Snowden and his father Peter have three horses in contention for the Golden Rose.

Paul Snowden is after his first Golden Rose win, with his training partner, father Peter, arguably best credentialled to mastermind another triumph in the first three-year-old Group One race of the Sydney spring.

Peter Snowden is the race’s most successful trainer with three winners – Forensics (2008), Denman (2009) and Epaulette (2012) – and his son is confident Saturday’s trio can acquit themselves well against $2 TAB favourite Menari.

Pariah has an edge in experience compared to Assimilate and Dracarys, although the latter also has a stakes win on his record after a last-start victory in the Group Three Up ‘N’ Coming Stakes last month.

An impressive first-up winner in the Group Three San Domenico Stakes last month, Pariah then finished runner-up to Menari in the Group Two Run To The Rose.

“He’s performed at the better level and his Menari form holds him in good stead,” Paul Snowden said.

The $6 second favourite’s versatility should also set him apart from his stablemates.

“He races anywhere, that’s the beauty of this horse. He can adapt to the tempo of the race,” Snowden said.

Snowden believes the 1400 metres will produce a different race pattern from the Run To The Rose (1200m) .

“There are six to eight horses that go forward. It’s going to be interesting to see how much Menari has to do (from barrier 11) if he gets caught wide and wants to press on and lead,” he said.

“It’s a completely different sort of race, tempo, everything is different to what’s happened in the lead-ups.”

Snowden was also optimistic about Assimilate ($14), who hasn’t raced since a second to Addictive Nature in the Ming Dynasty Quality on August 26, and Dracarys ($19) as they stake claims for a Melbourne campaign.

“I’m very happy with them. They run their first 600 very quickly, I dare say it’ll drag them into it late.”

The Snowdens have racked up 10 Group One winners in their three seasons since setting up their business and adding the Golden Rose would delight the junior partner.

“With colts it’s important to kick a goal if you can get it. This pops up before Melbourne so a lot of horses use it as a springboard for the carnival,” he said.