Snowden colt aiming for Millions after tough debut win

Tom Baddock - Wednesday September 20

Star Of Africa is being aimed at the $2 Million Gold Coast Magic Millions Guineas after the colt made a determined winning debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Advertisement
Paul and Peter Snowden. Photo: Snowden Racing

The $300,000 yearling purchase had four trials in preparation for his first race start and didn't disappoint, showing good resolve to hit the line strongly after having no luck and being caught three-wide in the run.

Despite covering extra ground, Hugh Bowman didn't panic and let Star Of Africa ($3.90) get into his rhythm, before leaving it to the final furlong to ask for the supreme effort. 

The son of More Than Ready responded gamely to hold off the challenge of Kristen Buchanan's Invincible Gangsta ($31) by three-quarters of a length, with another length back to Anthony and Edward Cummings' November Man ($9.50).

"It was very good to see him hit the line the way he did, he didn't have any favours," Paul Snowden, who trains in partnership with his father Peter said.

"He's a horse that does look around, we were aiming up to sort of get that sweet spot, sort of fourth or fifth and give him something to run down.

"I do feel he's got a lot of upside to him. He's going to get better as the races progress and get a little bit further.

"He's a Magic Millions horse and that's definitely a target for him if he's good enough."

Paul Snowden was confident that the three-year-old would derive great benefit from the race day experience.

"He needs to learn his craft, you've seen him run around a little bit today, Hughie only asked him for an effort in the last hundred or furlong," he said.

"He did everything right to that mark and then he sort of wandered around late. That'll come in time.

"He's put his head up, he's had a bit of a look around but he was still too good.

"He's going to learn a lot more from today."

The Snowden stable last tasted Magic Millions success in 2016 when subsequent Golden Slipper winner Capitalist took out the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Pencarrow Stud hits a hundred winners in stellar season
Pencarrow Stud has celebrated an outstanding achievement with a century of homebred winners for the season.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G3 Fred Best Showdown for Quality Colts – Rosemont vs Yulong
The rescheduled $300,000 Group III BRC Fred Best Classic (1350m) brings stakes racing to a Wednesday this week with a field of 17 to go around at Doomben and at the head of the market is a pair of quality colts.
$1500 Weanling Becomes $525,000 Top Lot at MM National Yearling Finale
A colt by Harry Angel set a new benchmark in Australia for his sire and topped the final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when selling for $525,000 to conclude a hugely successful two weeks of sales.
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.
In-Demand Stallions Feature in NZB Weanling Sale Catalogue
The catalogue for the 2025 NZB National Weanling Sale features the progeny of a broad range of sires, from proven topliners to exciting up-and-comers as well as the brand-new kid on the block, Profondo.
One to Watch – Echuca
Twin Hills Stud’s Peltzer had an impressive winner at Echuca on Tuesday for his breeder Olly Tait.