Gear change for young King ahead of Rosehill assignment

Peter and Paul Snowden will have at least one son of Capitalist lining up in the two-year-old race at Rosehill in debut winner King Of Roseau, but they are still debating whether stablemate Customized joins him.

A stylish third behind subsequent Magic Millions winner Storm Boy in the B J McLachlan Stakes at his only start, the latter is also an acceptor for a 1250 metre race at Canterbury on Friday night.

Regardless of which event he contests, Peter Snowden says Customized’s last-start performance points to him being highly competitive.

“It’s really good form because it was his very first start in a race,” Peter Snowden said.

“He ran a good third, he popped out to challenge late and the second horse (Poster Girl) gave him a decent bump a hundred metres out from the line and didn’t beat him by far.

“The winner went on and won the Magic Millions and the second horse ran sixth.

“He’s a nice horse going forward.”

King Of Roseau took out Canberra’s Clan O’Sullivan (1000m) at his first outing and is a definite starter in Saturday’s Ned Australian Whiskey Handicap (1100m).

The colt was wayward in the straight on debut but responded every time he was challenged and while he remains a work in progress, Peter Snowden says he has good ability.

“We’ve added winkers to his gear, just to help straighten him up. But he’s a nice horse and he’s going the right way,” Snowden said.

“If he puts everything together, he is probably Saturday class. But at the moment he’s still learning and you can’t afford to make mistakes at this level, otherwise you get found out pretty quick.

“It just depends how quickly he puts it all together, but he seems to be a horse with a bit of talent.”

Both colts are sons of Capitalist, who the Snowdens’ trained to win the 2016 Magic Millions Classic-Golden Slipper double, and Peter Snowden says they each throw a little to their sire.

“They’re probably a bit bigger and stronger than he was at the same age,” he said.

“They’re both nice horses in their own right, but different sorts of horses.”

King Of Roseau could be the stable’s lone runner at Rosehill with the Snowdens scratching Substantial in preference for a race in Brisbane, while wet track duffer Satin And Silk is likely to be reserved for the Kensington program next week.