Snowden’s 'A-grader' that works better than Ravi set for Saturday assault

Clinton Payne - Thursday September 14

Champion trainer Peter Snowden is renowned for not getting ahead of himself with his horses so when he labels one it makes sense to take notice and the horse in question saddles up at Randwick on Saturday.

Advertisement
Missile Coda. Photo: Bradley Photographers

Four-year-old mare Missile Coda runs in a benchmark 84 handicap over 1200m.

The daughter of Smart Missile won her last start (video below) in emphatic style before being a late scratching at the same track two weeks later after playing up in the barriers.

"She's very, very talented. She's very good," Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, said. "She's an A-grader I'm telling you.

"Honestly, when she works with Ravi, she works better than her.

"Look that's only a comparison at trackwork but unfortunately, she's losing some of what she's got before the race at the moment.

"When she didn't play up at Canterbury the other day she showed what she's capable of."

Snowden said Missile Coda's barrier manners are the only think holding the mare back.

"She's just got an attitude that doesn't help her," he said. "It all comes undone when she gets behind the gates on raceday.

"It's a slow process, these things can't be fixed overnight. It takes time to get them relaxed and settled, it doesn't matter how much barrier work you do.

"At trackwork she's quiet as a mouse but get there on race day and any noise she hears she thinks the barriers and opening and she has to get out."

Missile Coda is the $4.20 favourite on Saturday and the second emergency but there is already one early scratching.

Meanwhile, Snowden is also expecting another solid showing from his The Everest-bound sprinter Redzel in a star-studded Group II The Shorts (1100m).

Redzel will clash with his The Everest rivals Chautauqua, English and Fell Swoop on Saturday after recording a strong first-up win in the Group III Concorde Stakes (1000m).

Redzel wins the Concorde Stakes.

"He's straight forward and starting to prove his worth now," Snowden said. "He'll run well again on Saturday."

Redzel is the $2.75 favourite for Saturday's set weights and penalties event ahead of Chautauqua at $3.80 and the $4 third favourite English.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Keeps Winners Coming for Payne Stable
The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Bold Soul has been a consistent performer right through the winter months and notched another win at Flemington when prevailing in the VRC Membership Renewals Open (2530m) on Saturday.
Crossbow Takes Aim At Flemington To Score
With quality efforts behind handy horses in his first three starts, trainer Chris Waller crossed the border to Victoria with instant success for the Star Thoroughbreds raced Crossbow, with the well-marked son of Better Than Ready breaking through for an impressive win.
Kosciuszko calling Rosehill winner Elson Boy
Dubbo-trained Elson Boy was back in the winner’s circle after a 412-day absence when leading throughout to land the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill in the hands of apprentice William Stanley.
Sliding Doors Moment Delivers Feel Good Winner at Rosehill
Two fillies were born at Yulong in 2021 sired by Alabama Express from imported North American daughters of Street Cry, one of them is triple Group I winner Treasurethe Moment and the other is the feel good winner of the day at Rosehill on Saturday.
King of Roseau Wins G3 Aurie’s Star
Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Winning Hat-Trick for Progressive Pierro
Richard and Will Freedman probably have more talented horses in the stable than Pierro gelding Cold Brew, but few have the consistency of this four year-old who landed a winning hat-trick at Rosehill on Saturday.
Unique Filly a History Maker for Godolphin and Waller
The re-distribution of the Godolphin owned Australian racehorses has been a hot topic in recent weeks as they departed the care of James Cummings to join a wide spread of different trainers and one of those was Chris Waller, whose first runner for the blue army was a winner at Rosehill on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 2
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Dual Group Winner Too Darn Good At Flemington
A dual group winner during the Spring of her 3yo season, talented mare Too Darn Discreet showed an electric turn of foot, charging home over the top of them to win the Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The Novelist Returns to Form
The very first stakes-winner for his sire Written By when winning the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes in December 2022, The Novelist made light of the heavy 10 track at Rosehill on Saturday to claim another victory.