The Furious Stakes will give Team Snowden a perfect opportunity to test the depth of their three-year-old squad when a trio of their most talented fillies clash in the Group 2 race.
J J Atkins winner Sheeza Belter, Magic Millions runner-up Russian Conquest and Percy Sykes Stakes winner Paris Dior are all set to resume for the stable in Saturday’s second leg of the Princess Series.
The race has been a happy hunting ground for the Snowdens, who have won two of the past four renewals with Pure Elation in 2018 and Dame Giselle two years ago.
The exciting Paris Dior is rated their best chance this year as a $5 second pick with TAB fixed odds, behind Godolphin’s In Secret who is a $3.30 favourite despite drawing the outside in the field of 12.
Co-trainer Paul Snowden is excited to see what heights Paris Dior can reach this spring, starting at Randwick on Saturday, while he expects Sheeza Belter to follow a similar pattern to her two-year-old season and improve as she is stepped up in journey.
Sheeza Belter won two of her three starts over sprint distances in Perth before heading east to join the Snowdens, but she didn’t recapture winning form until she got to the 1400m of Brisbane’s Sires’ Produce Stakes.
“Last prep wrapped her up being a seven furlong to mile filly,” Paul Snowden said.
“The better fillies are probably going to be a but sharp for her, although I hope I’m wrong.
“Just the way she trialled the other day, she was good through the line. They broke her up a bit in the mid-stages so they might be too nippy for her, but she will come into her own when she gets to seven (furlongs, 1400m).
“It’s a shame we had to run them together.”
Paris Dior has drawn ideally in gate four and with James Mcdonald partnering In Secret, Brenton Avdulla has picked up the Furious Stakes mount.
William Pike won the two Brisbane features aboard Sheeza Belter and renews his association with the filly from barrier five, while Regan Bayliss will do the steering aboard Russian Conquest from gate 11.