Connections have decided to test Hot Snitzel against older horses for the first time when the ever reliable three-year-old lines up in The Galaxy at Randwick on Saturday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Triple Crown Syndications-raced gelding goes into the James Boag Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) as one of the more fancied runners following a freshen up since his fifth in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m).
Saturday's Group 1 sprint will be the first time Hot Snitzel comes up against older horses with Triple Crown Syndications' Chris Ward believing their three-year-old is up to the task.
“We think he deserves his crack at this,” Ward said.
“We know he performs particularly well fresh. Gerald [Ryan] has freshened him right up and says he is working tremendous. We'll give him a good crack at a solid Group 1 race.”
Being readied for a Queensland Winter campaign aimed at the Group 1 Stradbroke (1400m) in June, connections made the decision to take on The Galaxy opposed to the $250,000 Gosford Guineas (1200m) a day later.
“Essentially The Galaxy has been the first option the whole way through since his last race [Hobartville],” Ward said.
“We've just held the Gosford Guineas as a back up option. We've mainly been targeting the Galaxy with him.”
Hot Snitzel is currently an equal third favourite with TAB Sportsbet Fixed Odds at $10 alongside the likes of Title, Elite Falls and Temple Of Boom with Bel Sprinter the $5.50 top elect.
“I think he should be very competitive,” Ward said.
“He has shown this preparation that he has really improved. He has taken the next step up when he beat the likes of Manawanui and was very unlucky in the Hobartville.
“He dropped out late but he was right there in the mix with a number of them.
“I think fresh is just an ideal approach to take on a race like this.”
The Snitzel geldings latest effort in the Hobartville was his first start on Heavy going and connections are satisfied with how their Galaxy runner handled the conditions heading into Saturday.
“There are no concerns at all from us regarding the Heavy going,” Ward said.
“I know Gerald [Ryan] would probably prefer to see him on the dry but I think he has shown in the past he is no duffer in the wet.
“The Heavy conditions at Rosehill didn't pose a problem that day [Hobartville].
“The way things are going it could be quite bottomless at Randwick so that could be another ball game but from what we've seen we think he should handle it fine.”
There looks to be plenty of speed in the 1100m affair with Zaratone, Winter King and Nobby Snip all expected to go forward from their handy barriers.
Whilst capable of leading, a likely hot tempo should allow Hot Snitzel to come across from his wide alley and slot in behind the speed with any luck under the guidance of Hugh Bowman
“I think you might find we'll sit back off them a bit and then have the last crack at them,” Ward said.
“They can set the pace, there should be plenty of it.”
Triple Crown Syndications and Gerald have yet to confirm Hot Snitzel's next run which could be in either Sydney or Queensland with the three-year-old at this stage Stradbroke bound.
“His next start is very much up in the air at the moment,” Ward said.
“We haven't decided on anything as yet so we'll assess that after Saturday.”
