Trainer Peter Snowden will pin his hopes on rising star Raging Force in Saturday’s Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) after electing to withdraw filly Memo, and is eager to see how the colt measures up against elite company.
Raging Force was one of the breakout performers of the winter, stringing together three straight wins, including an eye-catching Rosehill victory in July that saw bookmakers quickly install him as the early favourite for the San Domenico. It marked a strong turnaround for the colt, who had been sidelined since injuring himself in last year’s Breeders’ Plate.
Snowden said Saturday’s test would provide an important springboard to bigger goals, with the Golden Rose (1400m) looming as a possible target.
“It’s a good test for him. He is going to meet some decent horses on Saturday,” Snowden said.
“I couldn’t be happier with him and I was really happy with his trial the other day. He seems a genuine horse and his three wins have all been in different scenarios. All solid. His last win was very good and the time was very good.
“I think he is a pretty handy horse but we’ll know more about him after Saturday.
“If he runs well, we’ll go to The Run To The Rose and that well tell us whether we go Golden Rose.”
The San Domenico shapes as one of the deepest three-year-old sprints of the season, with high-profile rivals including Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton, Blue Diamond Stakes hero Devil Night, and Skyline Stakes winner Rivellino, who ran a luckless fourth in the Slipper.
Snowden said Raging Force’s versatility was one of his greatest assets heading into the clash.
“He can handle wet. He can handle dry. He can lead. He can sit off them,” Snowden said.
“He’s just got most boxes ticked. Hopefully he’s got the ability one ticked after Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Memo was scratched from the San Domenico to instead trial at Rosehill on Thursday, finishing second behind stablemate Fire Star. Snowden indicated she was likely to kick off her campaign next week, with options available in both Sydney and Melbourne.
Punters keen to follow Raging Force’s run in the San Domenico Stakes or his potential progression to the Golden Rose can compare odds at Australia’s leading betting sites.