Peter and Paul Snowden will attempt to add to their haul of Blue Diamond winners when they saddle Don Corleone in Melbourne’s premier juvenile race.
Saturday’s 1200m Group 1 race for two-year-olds over 1200m has been shifted from Caulfield this year as an inside track is built at the track.
Sepoy (2011) and Earthquake (2012) won for Peter as son Paul worked in Melbourne in charge of the stable before the pair teamed to claim the 2015 Blue Diamond with Pride Of Dubai.
A son of 2016 Blue Diamond winner Extreme Choice , Don Corleone will be having his first start in Melbourne on Saturday having won on debut at Randwick last month then running fourth in the Pierro Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on February 11.
The Snowdens took advantage of the course proper being open at Sandown on Tuesday morning and gave Don Corleone a look at what can be a tricky circuit.
Peter Snowden explained Don Corleone got on his wrong leg at various stages in the gallop, but once balanced he stretched out well.
“That was his first real hit-out reverse way, and I was happy with what he did,” Snowden said.
“Its super, so good to be able to do that, especially at a place where you are going to run on Saturday and to get a good bit of ground.
“He’s only a baby and coming here for the first time, before an A-grade race, it’s pretty important.”
Snowden said, on potential, Don Corleone was up there with his previous Blue Diamond winners, but now the two-year-old has to go out and do it.
“Potential is one thing, doing it is another,” Snowden said.
“Potentially he maybe not as good as Sepoy, but he’s as good as a lot of the others that we have had.
“With babies, you don’t know what you will get on race day, unlike older horses. Some fall apart in the mounting yard, some fall apart in the stalls.
“This fella seems to have the right attitude. I like him a lot.
“He’s an outstanding colt and hopefully you see the best of him on Saturday.”
