The Snowden racing website quotes their well respected father and son training duo as saying, “Equine welfare and tailoring every aspect of the horses’ care, nutrition and training to bring out its best is paramount”.
That seems to be their motto and Everest (2017) is proof of their ability to bring out the best in their charge. Peter Snowden has trained for the best in Australia. He started his career as a jockey, learning the trade ins and outs before signing up to become a trainer. He was immediately taken on board by the Hawkes’ racing stable. From there he went on to manage for both the Inghams and also Darley. Peter was joined by his son Paul at Darley. Eventually both Peter and Paul decided to set up their own racing stables and Redzel is a testament to their hard work and experience in bringing about the best in a horse’ ability.
This week, we interview Mr. Peter Snowden at his racing stables at Randwick.
Q: Has Redzel started training for The Everest? Are there any lead:up races planned for Redzel? Where will he go next?
A: Yes he has. He returned from a spell about five weeks ago and has begun his training for The Everest. He will start off (in the lead:up races) on the 1st of September by running in the 1000m Gr.3 Concorde Stakes. Two weeks later he on the 15th of September he will run in the 1100m Gr.2 event, The Shorts. That’s four weeks from The Shorts to The Everest.
And after the Everest, a lot will depend on what happens then but more than likely he will go to Melbourne and run in the Darley Classic. This was the same race he ran in last year.
(Redzel won the 2017 Darley Classic, laying claim to the title of the nation’s best sprinter at Flemington)
Q: There are many sprinters in Australia and quite a few of the top in the world sprinters find their way to your stables. So what is special about Redzel’straning and his personality which makes him different, making him the best sprinter in the world?
A: I reckon it is his attitude. He is just very unassuming and he is a very laid back horse. The second reason is he doesn’t knock himself about. He is does what he is told and doesn’t over work himself. He does what he is told and how he is told. And that is his greatest asset. And other wise he has a laid back horse.
Q: We already know a large proportion of the horses coming into contest The Everest. Do you have any concerns about any of the known contenders?
A: Look there will be 12 runners and 12 slot holders. Every one of those horses deserves to be there. You will be competing against the best of them. But you can’t worry about these horses. I am only concerned about my horse and getting him as good as he can for The Everest. It’s going to be a very verygood race. But I don’t think about any of the other horses. I am just going to focus on getting him as good as I can.
Q: And finally, what would you say about the Everest format of racing and the phenomenon it has become? Do you think it will ever replace the Melbourne Cup in people’s hearts?
A: To be honest I don’t think it will ever over take the Melbourne Cup but it will become as big (and event) as the Melbourne Cup. I do think as far as prestige and being a high profile event, it will become bigger and better. The amount of money being offered for a sprint race is astronomical. You don’t see such kind of prize money for a sprint anywhere in the world. It is the richest race in the world. It will continue to be that. Australian horses are predominantly sprinters, up to a mark of 2000 meters. We are always looking for the greatest sprint stallion and this is the signature race for that. Our sprinters race and win around the world. They win in Newmarket, they win in Hong Kong. Our sprinters win everywhere and this is the best race to find the best sprinter in the world.
But I don’t think it will overtake the Melbourne Cup. That will always have a special place in the hearts of the Australian people.
Credit: pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com