Peter Snowden is set to saddle up a strong hand in Saturday’s Hawkesbury Crown, although the weather and track conditions may prove more decisive than the barrier draw for his two runners.

Coco Jamboo, the defending champion, drew wide in gate 17 but will shift in to 13 if the emergencies are scratched. Stablemate Tashi has fared better, drawing gate two. But with heavy ground expected, it’s unclear which alley will hold the advantage.

“They’ll both be solid chances and they get through wet ground,” Snowden said. “There’s not much between them. Maybe Coco Jamboo shades it slightly because she won this race last year and has been racing well again.”

Coco Jamboo hasn’t won since claiming last year’s Hawkesbury Crown but placed in the Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) first-up and ran fifth, just over a length behind Infancy, in the Sapphire Stakes (1200m).

Tashi was fourth in that same Sapphire Stakes and has accumulated four black-type placings in her career. Snowden hopes this will be the breakthrough she deserves.

“She’s gone so close a number of times in Stakes company,” he said. “She always puts in and has been a little unlucky with draws or runs. I’d love to see her get a win on the board.”

In early betting, Tashi is $8 and Coco Jamboo is $9.50. The favourite is Belclare, trained by Bjorn Baker, at $3.60.

Snowden has enjoyed a stellar record in the Hawkesbury Crown, winning it four times with Kanzan (2011), Aerobatics (2013-14), and Coco Jamboo (2023).