Put the whip away; Snapped bolts in with the Cool Ridge Handicap under Damien Thornton
By Ben Caluzzi
She’s only had two starts for two impressive victories, but already the Anthony & Sam Freedman trained Snapped will be thrown into the deep end this Friday night when she contests black type for the first time in the Group 3 Spendthrift Australia Typhoon Tracy Stakes.
A dominant winner of a Pakenham maiden before again saluting in style in the Cool Ridge Handicap at The Valley, she has bolted in with her two career starts by a combined margin of 6.3 lengths and comes into Friday night’s race as one of the key chances despite the sizeable jump in class.
A filly by Not a Single Doubt who impressed at the trials, Sam Freedman admits they did have high hopes for her even before her debut run – but already seeing that translate to race day has been satisfying for the Mornington based trainer.
“We knew she was probably Saturday class off her trials,” Freedman said.
“You can only get so much of a guide off trackwork and trials, but we’d seen enough of her to say she was definitely up to Saturday city class.
“Once you start getting into that Stakes grade it’s always hard to predict, but off her maiden win all of our eyes probably went to trying to find the right Stakes race for her.”
Snapped was in a league of her own a fortnight ago here at The Valley. She made light work of her opposition and put them away in a few strides, but still she showed her lack of race experience when getting keen on the bridle throughout the middle stages.
A month gap between runs and no trial leading into the race were good reason for that, but Freedman will be hoping that is a crack she can iron out as she progresses through her first preparation.
“She was a little bit fresh. She was a month between runs and we didn’t trial her, so she was a bit full of herself on the night.
“It was her first real time racing under lights as well. She got it all a little bit wrong but still showed a very good turn of foot which I think is her biggest asset.”
Snapped is yet to be challenged in easier grade so far, but that is all set to change this Friday night when she contests the $200,000 feature race. With confirmation on radio this morning that Scorched Earth will come to The Valley in favour of the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on Saturday, it shapes as a mouth-watering clash between the tried and true and the up and comer.
Scorched Earth is already a Stakes class winner at The Valley. She reigned supreme in the Listed Valley Pearl here last Autumn, and after running star Frankel filly Argentia to a nose last start – the Freedmans have the upmost respect for her.
“Scorched Earth is a very good filly. We have a big opinion of Argentia who she obviously nearly beat last start.
“Scorched Earth has a lot of racing under her belt, she’s a little more seasoned than this filly (Snapped) but I probably have a little leaning to ours at 1200 metres.
“But there’s no hiding at this time of year and in these types of races. We have to take them on and hopefully she can measure up.”
Other than her scintillating performances on track, one thing the Freedmans can take good encouragement from is the level punters have her going to. After obliterating the 1200 metre track record at Pakenham on debut, she was sensationally backed from $1.95 into $1.40 at The Valley and certainly didn’t let her keen backers down.
“I think the market tends to get it pretty right with a talent like this.
“It is telling, but they’re still horses. They don’t know what price they are so you can only get them there in the best shape and hope that they do the rest.”
We will be hoping Snapped can measure up to Group 3 level as she aims to defend her unbeaten record, and if the market is in her corner late again – you’d be brave to take her on.