News 
 National News 
 National 
 Sport 
 Country Club team prefers Slipper to Blue Diamond 

Country Club team prefers Slipper to Blue Diamond

20 Dec, 2008 11:30 PM

DARLEY trainer Peter Snowden will resist the temptation to send promising filly Country Club to Melbourne for the Blue Diamond Stakes, despite the daughter of Lonhro impressing with a debut win at Randwick yesterday.

Country Club camped behind the lead under the guidance of Kerrin McEvoy before pouncing midway down the straight and racing to an easy win.

McEvoy considered himself lucky to be riding after a barrier incident in the opening race nearly ended in disaster.

"When the gates opened early the horse I was on [Hasta Pronto] reared up and I came off," he said.

"I ended up on the ground and stayed down, which was lucky because the horse then kicked out. If I'd gotten up he would have collected me."

Snowden said Country Club would be aimed at the Golden Slipper, as will Foreign News, which impressed in winning the two-year-olds colts' and geldings' race yesterday.

"The Blue Diamond comes around too quick," said Snowden when asked if the group 1 was an option.

"We're already almost through December and it is in mid-February.

"It would mean she would have another couple of runs before that race and have to travel to Melbourne in between time.

"It is just too much of an ask for a filly like her - that is in her first preparation. And if you go to the Blue Diamond, then you are pretty much ruling out coming back for the Golden Slipper.

"She'll have to go and have about three weeks off now and then we'll get her back and look at the races on the way to the Golden Slipper.

"I don't know if she's up to that standard but we'll certainly have a go and we'll soon find out."

Country Club ($2.50) won by 1¾ lengths from the Lee Freedman-trained Tariks ($9) with a neck to outsider Break Card ($51) in third.

McEvoy expected Country Club to come on further from the run.

"You'd think she will improve even more after that effort. Peter's horses have a habit of getting better with a run under their belt," he said.

"She is as professional as they come and I think that was a pretty strong two-year-old race today.

"The form should hold up out of it."

The Garry White-prepared first-starter Foreign News was ridden by Jim Cassidy, who rated the gelding as "as smart a two-year-old as I've ridden".

"He jumped well and relaxed in front and I was always travelling sweetly," Cassidy said.

"I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch but I'll tell you what, he's going to be going places."

Foreign News ($14) won by a half-neck from Shellscrape ($2.70) with 2¾ lengths to Hasta Pronto ($2.60).

"I though he'd win today," White said. "Now I'll give him three weeks off and then bring him back and head towards the Golden Slipper.

"I've got a big opinion of him."

Print
Increase Text Size
Decrease Text Size
Page:
1



Most popular articles

1) Apple iPhone 4 32GB43 plans 1%
2) Apple iPhone 4 16GB44 plans 5%
3) HTC Desire4 plans 3%
4) Apple iPhone 3GS 8GB33 plans 2%
5) Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro37 plans 1%

Mobile Phones | Broadband Plans

Get the best deal at Fairfax Digital - Rural Press

SJM Carpentry & Building PTY LTD
 
Northern Windscreens
 
Alliance One Credit Union


The Northern Argus







Weather brought to you by:

Weatherzone

Navigate

Classifieds

More Ways to Read

Front Page

Current Issue
Privacy Policy | Conditions of Use | Advertising Terms | Copyright © 2010. Fairfax Media.
 SEND...
 SAVE...
 SHARE...