Lavish Empire to state his case for a shot at Scone Cup with a Randwick win
Champion trainer Peter Snowden is considering a Scone Cup start for Lavish Empire if he maintains winning form in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Snowden said Lavish Empire surprised him with his new-found stamina reserves when he defeated Grebeni in the Muswellbrook Cup last start.
'We had never tried Lavish Empire at 1500m before but he hit the line really well to win at Muswellbrook,' Snowden said.
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'I thought he should have another crack at the trip and if he runs well again then I'm thinking about setting him for the Scone Cup next month.
'If he can run a mile (1600m) then it opens up a lot more opportunities.'
Lavish Empire is second emergency but is over the odds at $21 with TAB Fixed Odds for the Randwick race where Ducasse is the $4.20 favourite.
But Snowden's promising sprinter Zealously dominates at the betting at $1.80 for the Jeff Pendlebury Handicap (1000m).
Zealously resumed with a close second to Wondereach at Warwick Farm and Snowden said three-year-old has been improved by the run.
'He ran super first-up and was only caught right on the line,' Snowden said. 'He has come on well from that and this looks a nice race for him on paper.
'When he was last in work he only had four runs for three wins then he ran fourth to Private Harry in The Sunlight on the Sunshine Coast so his form is very good.'
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Snowden also saddles up will King Of Roseau ($7) in the Terry Maskell Handicap (1200m) and unbeaten filly Akaysha ($8) in the ATC Bookmakers Recognition Day Handicap (1100m).
King Of Roseau, who was stakes-placed twice last spring, resumed with a close fourth against older horses at Warwick Farm earlier this month.
'He ran well first-up and he will like the 'cut' in the track on Saturday,' Snowden said. 'I'm looking to take him to the Gold Coast on May 10 (Gold Coast Guineas) if he runs well at Randwick.'
Akaysha won impressively on debut at Kembla Grange earlier this month, recording a very fast 55.86s for the 1000m. She is at $8 in early betting behind favourite Beskar at $2.50.
At the Kensington Anzac Day meeting on Friday, Snowden has Queen Of Dragons resuming in the Gallipoli Handicap (1400m).
Although Queen Of Dragons is rated at $17 for her return to racing, Snowden believes the mare is an each-way chance.
'Queen Of Dragons doesn't mind the sting out of the ground,' Snowden said.
'She trialled super the other day in a good heat and she can run well fresh.'
Originally published as Lavish Empire shooting for back-to-back 1500m wins with his new-found stamina reserves when he heads to Randwick
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