Team Snowden building strong Blue Diamond Stakes team

Counteroffensive will be out to add his name to Peter and Paul Snowden’s army of two-year-olds for the Blue Diamond Stakes.

The son of Deep Field heads to the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday and if he runs well could be back at the same track for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on February 24.

Counteroffensive could join debut win Bodyguard who heads to the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday week where he will be joined by High Octaine and Holmes A Court who ran one-two in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1000m) on January 26.

The Snowden’s have announced Mark Zahra will ride Bodyguard with Blake Shinn going onto High Octane while Jye Mcneil sticks with Holmes A Court.

Paul Snowden said performances on Saturday and the following week will determine the strength of their Blue Diamond team.

“This run tells you whether you battle on to the main race,” Snowden said.

“It’s important for them all to run well just to see where they’re at.”

Counteroffensive has only had the one start, finishing third in a Warwick Farm two-year-old maiden back in October.

Put away after that run, the colt has had two trials in Sydney, winning his most recent at Randwick.

With the scratching of Tippytay from Saturday’s race, Counteroffensive will start from the widest gate in the six-horse field.

“That’s fine,” Snowden said.

“He is an on-speed runner and he’ll go forward, he will more than likely lead. He likes that role.

“He’s had that pre-race run before Christmas, and all these little things they can go with you a bit at this time of year, rather than coming into it at your first racing prep when you’re thrown in the deep end a little bit.

“He certainly knows what he is there to do.

“I think Blake will suit the horse really well and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.”