The Snowden stable isn’t downplaying the barrier trial hype surrounding Rosehill first starter Defcon.

But father-and-son training partners Peter and Paul are putting the onus on the two-year-old to deliver on his promise in Saturday’s Group Three Canonbury Stakes.

“It’s up to the horse now,” Paul Snowden said.

“He’s trialled well, he’s in good order, he’s been working good.

“He looks the goods but he’s got to do it.”

Such has been the reaction to Defcon’s performances at the barrier trials, the horse sits towards the top of Blue Diamond Stakes markets and on the third line of Golden Slipper betting.

But a start in the Blue Diamond, which the Snowden’s won last year with Pride Of Dubai, hinges on how Defcon handles race-day pressure at Rosehill.

“We need to see him run very well and justify us taking him down there for the (Blue Diamond) Prelude,” Paul Snowden said.

Snowden Racing appears to have a wealth of talent in its two-year-old ranks this season.

They put the polish on benchmark juvenile Capitalist, the Magic Millions winner who is unbeaten in three starts and a standout Slipper favourite.

Defcon was more highly touted than Capitalist after the first official two-year-old trials in Sydney last September, clocking a quicker time to win his heat than his stablemate.

But as Capitalist emerged as a juvenile star, Defcon sat out the spring.

Paul Snowden believes the extra time has paid off for the Canonbury Stakes favourite who has returned to work a more mellow horse.

“The biggest part about him this time through is how relaxed he is,” Snowden said.

Defcon is a $2 pick for an intriguing edition of the Canonbury Stakes which also includes Godolphin’s debut winner Tessera and blue-blood debutant Star Of Monsoon, a Lonhro youngster out of a sister to champion sire Redoute’s Choice.

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au