Aiming for second to Winx
TRAINERS Peter Snowden and David Payne have virtually conceded they’re racing for Group 1 placings behind superstars Winx and The Autumn Sun at Rosehill on Saturday.
Snowden’s Land Of Plenty is on the second line of betting, albeit at $17, behind the incomparable Winx, the $1.06 favourite, for the Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Payne, the only trainer to orchestrate a defeat of The Autumn Sun, stopped short of predicting another huge upset when his promising threeyear-old Costello takes on the crack colt in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
Land Of Plenty was a topclass galloper but Snowden said having to clash with the mighty Winx on a heavy track was not the ideal scenario.
“Winx is the best horse I have seen,’’ said Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son, Paul. “It is incredible she has been racing for all these years and nothing has gone wrong with her. She never seems to get a temperature, hoof abscess, anything.
“I asked Chris (Waller) about it the other day and he said she has never had an issue. Touch wood she doesn’t get one now, either.
“Winx is great for racing and although I’d prefer not having to go up against her with Land Of Plenty, he needs the race.’’
The Snowdens are preparing Land Of Plenty for the Group 1 $3 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 6 and would prefer to run in the George Ryder and then have two weeks until his next race.
Land Of Plenty has raced only once on a heavy track in his career and that was in the Rosehill Guineas two years ago when he finished well back behind Gingernuts.
The Chris Waller-trained Winx is at the shortest odds of her career when she aims for her fourth consecutive George Ryder Stakes on Saturday.