It hasn’t take new trainer partnership Snowden racing long to make a mark on the Sydney racing scene with recent feature winners Cluster and Disclaimer flying the flag high and proud for the Randwick based operation. They could keep the ball rolling Saturday with I’ve Got The Looks, a flashy daughter of Choisir, who line up second favourite in the sprinting feature at Randwick this Saturday. She’s is rated a $3.80 chance just behind Famous Seamus ($2.90) who produced a big finish in this race last year to run a neck third to Arinosa. As he was then, he’ll be second up from a spell and fair to say this field isn’t of the same depth to that of last year. Rain Affair ($5.00) and Generalife ($6.00) are the other runners under double figures

Premiere Stakes 2014 field

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1. SINCERO – T Angland (6)

It’ll be almost a year ago until the day that we last saw this Group 1 winner race. The now 7yo looked well in a recent Randwick barrier trial running second well within himself and does support an impressive first up record of five wins from eight starts, including the G1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) however, after such a lengthy lay-off over a what should be a slick 1200m, would think he’d be better for this run.

2. FAMOUS SEAMUS – T Clark (8)

Drew the widest gate in the field of ten and was last in the run when resuming in the G2 The Shorts a fortnight ago. He then pulled to the outside topping the Randwick rise and was finishing powerfully down the centre of the track, running third (2.1 lengths) to the very much in form Terravista. Generally goes better again second up, missing a place only once in six starts and off of his first up run, that’ll make him very hard to beat here.

3. RAIN AFFAIR – B Shinn (5)

Had conditions to suit first up in the G3 Concorde Stakes – wet track, was fresh with two good trial performances under his belt, drew well, led….. but again let punters down who took the 5/2 by running third (1.5 lengths) behind Terravista and Nuclear Class. It’s been over a year now since he last won a race despite starting favourite three of his six runs since then. As he often does, looked good in a trial since the Concorde in winning by six but has suckered punters in with similar efforts in the past before not backing them up race day.

4. GENERALIFE – J McDonald (4)

Hit a purple patch of form during a winter campaign that saw him win four of five starts including dominate victories in the Listed Civic (1350m) and Winter Stakes (1400m) defeating Bennetta and Romantic Moon by comfortable margins. The five year old gelding has been prepped for his return to racing with two barrier trials, the most recent of which saw the 5yo run second under a good hold. He has continued to improve throughout his career and whilst this is a solid test for him first up, he has looked good in recent trails and finished last campaign on high.

5. CHARLIE BOY – J Parr (2)

Having produced two good trials in readiness for his return to racing in the G3 Bobbie Lewis (1200m) and having won over the course first up last prep, more was expected from this 4yo stallion then he produce. He settled midfield but was weak in the run home, dropping out to run fifteen and over seven lengths from the winner Chautauqua. He pulled up with a poor post race recovery rate but want to see him produce a run first before tipping him to do so.

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6. WOULDN’T IT BE NICE – S Clipperton (3)

The Paul Perry trained runner was rewarded for some consistent performances with victory in the G3 Concorde Stakes where he finished strongly closer to the fence in the heavy conditions to defeat Nuclear Class and Rain Affair. His only start since has seen him old his place on a firmer surface in the run home to cross the line in seventh spot (4.4 lengths) to Terravista and I’m All The Talk. Will not find this race, run under WFA conditions, any easier.

7. SCORPIO QUEEN – C Reith (7)

Relatively new-comer to the Kris Lees Stable who only has had two starts for the Newcastle Trainer, finishing mid-field in both the G1 Stradbroke Handicap and G1 Tatt’s Tiara. Lees has given the daughter of Choisir two trials in readiness for her return to racing here but her fresh record isn’t strong and better efforts come over longer journey’s than this. Wait for her get a few runs under her belt.

8. I’VE GOT THE LOOKS (1)

Having won two of her three starts this campaign, trainers Pete and Paul Snowden decided to give their 5yo mare a crack at Group race and she lined up in the G2 The Shorts (1100m). She settled four back on the fence and was blocked for a run early in the straight before running home steadily along the fence over the final furlong to finish fifth, 3.3 lengths behind Terravista. A mare in form is never to be underestimated and last start was ok for here but his is a step up again and would need to produce a clear career best.

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Premiere Stakes 2014 Odds/Results

RACE OVERVIEW AND SELECTIONS

Rain Affair should get is own way in front here but has let punters down regular in the past. He’ll provide a lovely trail for I’ve Got The Looks who should get a lovely run throughout. She was just held up last start in the G2 The Shorts but should get every chance here. Generalife blossomed during the winter and has performed well within himself in two trails, he’ll be finishing hard.

1. FAMOUS SEAMUS
2. I”VE GOT THE LOOKS
3. GENERALIFE
4. RAIN AFFAIR

News:

The four-horse European team of trainer Marco Botti in Melbourne for the spring carnival have settled in well following their arrival last Saturday.

The quartet are undergoing quarantine at Werribee racecourse and Botti’s assistant trainer Paul Francis reports they have settled in well.

The four gallopers are owned by Australian connections.

Dandino, Seismos and Guest Of Honour are with Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock while Renew is owned by OTI Racing.

But Francis doesn’t feel any pressure and looks forward to a “cheer squad” being on hand at Werribee as the horses are put through their paces.

Dandino is on his second trip to Melbourne and will line-up in both the Caulfield Cup on October 18 and the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 4.

He finished second and fifth respectively in those races last year.

“When he gets out here it seems to spark him up a bit more,” Francis said. “He loves all the one-to-one stuff and being out on the track.”

Seismos will join Dandino in the Caulfield Cup and Francis said the gelding was an adaptable galloper who handled any sort of ground.

“He’s travelled before and has settled in well,” Francis said.

Guest Of Honour, a Cox Plate entry, will run in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on October 11 as a lead-up to Moonee Valley on October 25.

“He’s travelled once before but he was only a young horse then,” Francis said.

“He’s a five-year-old now, he’s taken this very well and he’s a horse we’re really pleased with as he didn’t lose an ounce on the plane.”

Joining Guest Of Honour at Caulfield will be Renew who lines-up in the Herbert Power Stakes.

The gelding needs to win the race to secure a start in the Caulfield Cup.

“The thing in his favour is that he loves fast ground,” Francis said. “A mile and a half might be a bit sharp for him but time will tell.”