The Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden team will be up and about with up to ten runners across meetings at Canberra on Friday, Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, and Nowra on Sunday.
Friday is one of Thoroughbred Park’s big race days – the Civium Property Group Preview Race Day – an important precursor to next month’s Black Opal Stakes Race Day.
The Canberra stable will likely have six chances going around, and there will be a lot of attention on the last-start winner, Burgundy Girl.
With stable apprentice Jess Brookes in the saddle, the 7YO Cable Bay mare won the seventh race of her career when triumphing in the Sapphire Coast Cup Benchmark 66 Handicap (2200m) on February 1.
Brookes remains in the saddle as the pair target race seven, the $40,000 Canberra Cup Preview (2000m).
A field of eight runners, Burgundy Girl has drawn softly with gate four and will only carry 53kg after Brookes’ two-kilogram claim.
Dryden and Snowden will also start:
- Brume De Soliel (Jess Brookes, gate 4) in race one, the 1000m Maiden Plate.
- Silver Touch (Nick Heywood, gate 5) in race two, the 1300m Maiden Handicap.
- Brazen Crime (Nick Heywood, gate 1) in race three, the 1600m Benchmark 65 Handicap.
- Restless Spirit (Jack Martin, gate 2) in race six, the 1000m Black Opal Preview.
- Showtime Maggie (Jack Martin, gate 3) in race nine, the 1200m Class One Handicap.
The nine-race Canberra meeting starts at 12.47 pm.
The stable’s attention then turns to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, where Shezain is chasing three wins on the trot in the $120,000 Class Three Highway Handicap (1300m).
Originally drawn as an emergency, the in-form 4YO Zousain mare has already gained a start and gets in with gate 9 and the services of Andrew Adkins (54kg).
Shezain has impressed everyone this preparation, resuming at Moruya on January 5 with a maiden victory (1010m) for Nick Heywood.
The pair combined again at the Sapphire Coast on February 1, cruising to a comfortable victory in the 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
It’s a huge step up in class for the youngster, but a deserved one as Shezain takes on some of the best country gallopers at Rosehill Gardens.
Rounding out a busy three-day stretch for the stable, Dryden and Snowden tackle the Nowra meeting on Sunday, with up to four runners:
- Colorado Sun (Nick Heywood, gate 8) in race 2, the 1400m Maiden Plate.
- Boom In The Dark (Nick Heywood, gate 8) in race three, the 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
- Shoreman (gate 14) in race five, the 1100m Class One Handicap.
- Acheson (Alysha Collett, gate 11) in race six, the 1400m Benchmark 66 Handicap.
The seven-race Nowra program commences at 1.40 pm.
Words/Image: Jeff Hanson