Media World wins the Hawkesbury Guineas for Peter Snowden
The superbly-bred Media World held off the late surge of Just Party to win the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m).
Snowden has a real affinity with the iconic Hawkesbury meeting with Media World giving him a record fifth win in the Guineas after previous successes with Exoboom (2021), Military Zone (2019), Limes (2013) and Free Wheeling (2012).
The master trainer has also won five Clarendon Stakes including with Media World last year.
Media World becomes a rare dual winner at the Hawkesbury stand-alone and joins Royal Discretion (2007-08) as winners of the Clarendon Stakes-Hawkesbury Guineas double.
'This is a very good race meeting and I like to target it with the right type of horse,'' Snowden said.
'We deliberately held Media World back with the Hawkesbury Guineas in mind for him.
'It's great that he can come here and win another nice race.''
Media World ($9), ridden by Tyler Schiller, held off the fast-finishing ($5.50 equal favourite) to win the Guineas by a nose with Zeitung ($12) one-and-a-half lengths away third.
� Media World hangs on in the G3 @hawkesburyrc Guineas and makes it two in a row! @SnowdenRacing1 | @G1TySchil | @YulongInvest pic.twitter.com/rip3F1hXjK
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025
Candlewick ($5.50 equal favourite) had the run of the race but she faded late to finish sixth, beaten just over there lengths.
Schiller said he was able to give Media World a 'breather' in the middle stages of the race which proved crucial in the sprint to the line.
'Once he did quicken from the top of the straight, although the challengers were there he always felt like he was toughing it out,'' Schiller said.
'When it counted he was in front on the line, which was good. He is a very sharp horse.
'Pete was more worried about second-up after having a tough run first-up that he was going to be a bit soft but to see him strong right through the line was great.
'I know that other horse dashed at him but he felt like he kept going through the line. He is going to improve into his preparation again, he's a really honest horse.''
â– â– â– â– â–
â– â– â– â– â–
Snowden said he was concerned that Schiller might have made too much use of Media World early to get across from his wide barrier and find the front.
'Media World was a touch slow to jump and I thought he might have made a bit too much use of him early to get there but once he did, the horse relaxed really well,'' Snowden said.
'He got into a lovely rhythm. He's got that really good skipping action and he quickened nicely so it was a good result.'
Media World is by champion sire Written Tycoon out of the stakes-winning Meryl and was purchased by Yulong for $1.4 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale two years ago.
Breeders Francis and Christine Cook kept a share in Media World and were rewarded with the colt's valuable Group 3 win.
'This colt was Meryl's first and it was Written Tycoon's last service at Arrowfield and we got it at a good price there before he went down to Yulong,'' Francis Cook said.
'We ran second with Dalchini beaten a nose (to Mr Mozart in the 2022 Hawkesbury Guineas) but to get across the line with a horse we bred, I'm a bit teary.''
Snowden said there was some thought given to gelding Media World last year.
'We were very tempted to geld him but Yulong wanted to give me one more chance with him as a colt and I'm glad they did,'' Snowden said.
'Already its paid dividends, he's won a Group race here today and I hope he can go on further and go to Brisbane and do something else.
'I will take him to Brisbane for the Fred Best (Classic) next. I'm hoping he could emerge as a Stradbroke Handicap – he's heading in the right direction, that's for sure.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
11-08-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Snowden optimistic Hurry Miss can break duck at Hawkesbury
Randwick trainer Peter Snowden will be hoping promising mare Hurry Miss can live up to her potential and break through with a win in Tuesday's HRC Motel 4YO&Up Maiden Plate (1300m) at Hawkesbury, with Tommy Berry taking the ride. Snowden has started the Yulong-owned daughter of Alabama Express four times, and she has been placed in each of them, including a resuming second at Kembla Grange. 'She's always shown us her share of ability,' said Snowden. 'She was placed at Kembla Grange on debut and then had a couple of city placings in her second preparation. 'She resumed the other day at Kembla Grange again and went down narrowly when second again. She's drawn the rails at Hawkesbury and should get every chance to break through.' Snowden has two other runners set to go around at Hawkesbury, with Look Here lining up in the Blakes Marine Maiden Handicap (1100m) with Andrew Adkins in the saddle. Loading He also has Sukeban, to be ridden by Tom Sherry, lining up in the XXXX Gold Class 1 Handicap (1100m). Look Here is on debut after four trials including two recent hitouts, while Sukeban is resuming having won the Romantic Dream at Tamworth in April. Meanwhile, champion jockey James McDonald will make a rare midweek appearance at a Hawkesbury provincial meeting when he heads to the track to partner Tuscany in the Blakes Marine Maiden Handicap (1100m) for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Golden Century for Chris Waller in the Pioneer Services Maiden Plate (1500m).
The Age
11-08-2025
- The Age
Snowden optimistic Hurry Miss can break duck at Hawkesbury
Randwick trainer Peter Snowden will be hoping promising mare Hurry Miss can live up to her potential and break through with a win in Tuesday's HRC Motel 4YO&Up Maiden Plate (1300m) at Hawkesbury, with Tommy Berry taking the ride. Snowden has started the Yulong-owned daughter of Alabama Express four times, and she has been placed in each of them, including a resuming second at Kembla Grange. 'She's always shown us her share of ability,' said Snowden. 'She was placed at Kembla Grange on debut and then had a couple of city placings in her second preparation. 'She resumed the other day at Kembla Grange again and went down narrowly when second again. She's drawn the rails at Hawkesbury and should get every chance to break through.' Snowden has two other runners set to go around at Hawkesbury, with Look Here lining up in the Blakes Marine Maiden Handicap (1100m) with Andrew Adkins in the saddle. Loading He also has Sukeban, to be ridden by Tom Sherry, lining up in the XXXX Gold Class 1 Handicap (1100m). Look Here is on debut after four trials including two recent hitouts, while Sukeban is resuming having won the Romantic Dream at Tamworth in April. Meanwhile, champion jockey James McDonald will make a rare midweek appearance at a Hawkesbury provincial meeting when he heads to the track to partner Tuscany in the Blakes Marine Maiden Handicap (1100m) for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Golden Century for Chris Waller in the Pioneer Services Maiden Plate (1500m).
The Australian
04-08-2025
- The Australian
Sydney sprinter King Of Roseau dominates in Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington
Rain, hail or shine at home in Sydney, the Flemington straight could still be the go in spring for Group 3 Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) winner King Of Roseau. The emerging sprinter, trained by Peter Snowden, dominated the feature event on Saturday from Bandi's Boy, who also dropped into Melbourne to avoid the Harbour City big wet. Snowden said King Of Roseau could return to Flemington, as early as next month. King Of Roseau placed third at Flemington last year behind Growing Empire and First Settler. Growing Empire would go on to place in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Snowden returned on Saturday confident progressive sprinter King Of Roseau would appreciate the straight again. 'He's been going through his grades quite well (in Sydney), but wet tracks up there, especially today, was going to be a no-brainer for us today (to come to Flemington),' Snowden said. 'He's always showed a fair bit actually, running good races against good horses and he just couldn't win, and he got to the point he started to lack a bit of enthusiasm in his races. 'We gelded him and that helped, gone back to benchmark racing and earned his stripes. He's got a real grit about his racing and come through again today. 'Now we know he really likes Flemington we'll come back … not every horse handles Flemington down the straight and this horse has got a bit of an affinity for it.' • 'I was a passenger': In-form Sensation set for Group 1 shot Snowden said conditions would dictate future plans with heavy tracks to be avoided. 'He's OK on soft tracks but when you get on the Heavy 10s, like Sydney is today, it's a no-brainer, no way (he races on that),' Snowden said. 'He's going through his grades quite well now, that was a good field without being a star-studded field but there was some promising horses there and he won with a bit of authority. 'He's an improving horse, he's in good form, he's rock hard fit and he's holding that form well. 'We'll definitely come down (again)… he handles it well, so no doubt we'll be back over the spring.' Jockey Michael Dee sealed a comeback Flemington double with his third Aurie's Star victory. Dee, who rode in Japan through the Australian winter, rated the performance highly. 'The way (King Of Roseau) won that, there's definitely bigger things in store for him,' Dee said. 'Gee he won easily and gave me a lovely feel.' Winning jockey Michael Dee speaks with connections after the win. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images • Crossbow aims higher after maiden win at Flemington Dee was able to get cover early and King Of Roseau sorted out the rest. 'They ran along a lot quicker than I thought they would… as soon as I peeled him to the outside he really took off,' Dee said. 'He quickened up easily and we got just before the clock tower and I asked again and gee he let rip.' Third-placed Marble Nine led the Melbourne brigade from Miss Aria. Favourite Splash Back finished midfield. The Grahame Begg-trained mare appeared a bit lost down the straight after being pushed widest and only got going late. Begg said Splash Back would return to 1400m next start around a bend. Gilbert Gardiner Sports reporter Gilbert Gardiner is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun. @gilbertgardiner Gilbert Gardiner
