Randwick Handicap Victory for Peter Snowden’s Filly Zarrose
In a thrilling turn of events at Randwick Racecourse, Peter Snowden’s decision to run his filly Zarrose in the Inglis Yearling Entries Close 16 Aug Handicap (1400m) proved to be a masterstroke. The talented four-year-old stormed home to secure her second successive win, much to the delight of her trainer.
Snowden had initially contemplated scratching Zarrose in favor of an easier assignment, believing the race to be dominated by the fancied runners Invader Zim and Getafix. However, when those two horses were withdrawn on race morning, the seasoned trainer decided to take a chance with his promising filly.
“I nearly wasn’t going to run her today. When the favourites were in, I thought we couldn’t beat them and I’d go to a midweek meeting,” Snowden admitted. “But when they came out it made the decision to come here today easier and she has vindicated that.”
Zarrose, by the stallion Exosphere out of the 2006 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner Rewaaya, has always been held in high regard by Snowden. The trainer believes he has now unlocked the key to Zarrose’s success, noting that she thrives when ridden conservatively and allowed to produce her powerful finishing burst.
“She has always been a filly we’ve had a bit of an opinion of and I think we might have got her worked out now, that she is a fresh filly, and ridden that way (conservatively) is the way to go,” Snowden said.
Ridden by jockey Zac Lloyd, Zarrose ($4.40 equal bookmaker favorite) overpowered the race leader, It’s A Knockout ($5), to win by a neck, with Bella Khadijah ($7.5) finishing a further 2-1/4 lengths back in third.
Snowden is confident that Zarrose’s impressive form and turn of foot will see her progress to better races, and he has already identified the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle on September 20 as a potential target for the talented filly.
“I reckon she can get to stakes grade,” Snowden said. “She’s two from two this campaign and there is upside to her for sure. It’s a good time to try her at the start of the carnival.”
Zarrose’s victory has undoubtedly given her connections a reason to be excited about the upcoming racing season, and it will be intriguing to see how she fares in her future assignments as she continues to climb the ranks of the sport.
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