The first part of Paul Snowden’s Darley farewell wish list was ticked off on Saturday in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
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The second is likely to prove more difficult.
Heading into his final carnival as Darley’s Melbourne foreman for his father Peter, Paul Snowden pinpointed the Blue Diamond Stakes and Australian Guineas as the races he wanted to win.
Earthquake held up her end of the bargain with a dominant display in Saturday’s $1 million juvenile feature at Caulfield.
Darley will rely on outsider San Diego in Saturday’s Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
It’s a race that has been frustrating for the Snowdens with Marching second in 2008 and Bullbars runner-up three years later.
Darley had the favourite in 2009 (Fravashi), 2010 (Denman) and 2012 (Helmet) only for all to finish out of the placings, while Albrecht was unplaced as a $7.50 chance last year.
San Diego was well-beaten first-up in the CS Hayes Stakes (1400m), finishing eighth in the race won by Guineas favourite Hucklebuck.
Last preparation he was placed in the Listed Henry Bucks Stakes behind Long John and was runner-up to Polanksi in the Group Three Norman Robinson Stakes.
Paul Snowden said the colt, to be ridden by Steven Arnold, had come through his first-up run really well.
“It’s just depends on tempo with him,” Snowden said.
“He’ll run a better race.
“He just gassed out and was a touch fresh first-up.
“There’s a possibility he could back up in the Alister Clark after the Guineas and then go to Sydney after that.
“That’s something we’ve always thought about but we’ve just got to wait and see. If he happened to win (the Guineas), he would just go straight to Sydney.”
Paul Snowden leaves Darley on March 15 to start setting up a training operation in Sydney with his father to join him in May after he winds up with Sheikh Mohammed’s operation.
Hucklebuck is the $4.40 Guineas favourite ahead of CF Orr Stakes runner-up Eurozone and Vanity Stakes-winning filly Solicit at $6.
Cox Plate winner Shamus Award is at $8 along with The Quarterback, while San Diego is at $51.
