Huetor back from the brink in 2025 The Beauford
A win by Huetor in Saturday’s The Beauford would be a remarkable achievement, reflecting both Peter Snowden’s perseverance and the veteran galloper’s extraordinary will to return.
Huetor’s career has twice hung by a thread. First came a dangerous eye infection in 2022 that required multiple surgeries, and then the frightening tendon injury he sustained when galloped on in last year’s Caulfield Cup.
“He got galloped on in the Caulfield Cup last year near the 1800-metre mark, really badly,” Snowden said.
“When he came back in, we saw all this blood down his leg and to see the tendon, it was a horrible sight.
“The vet said, ‘we’ll save him, but he will never race again’.
“He has been through the wars, but he keeps coming back.”
While Huetor eventually returned to racing after the tendon trauma, his first three appearances this prep were well below his best, prompting Snowden to question whether the comeback had reached its end.
A gear change revitalised him. With blinkers applied, he surged late to finish fourth in the Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m), convincing Snowden to press on to the The Beauford (2300m).
“That was his last chance. I said to the owners, ‘if he doesn’t do something today, I don’t want to keep sending him around finishing where he is. I’ll look after him. Give him to me and I’ll look after him forever’,” Snowden said.
“Low and behold, he bounced out and did what he did.
“It’s not the perfect race for him but I’m keen to run him because his work is great and he’s going well.”
Snowden also presents Grand Prairie, the deserved favourite in the Spring Stakes, well placed under the set-weights conditions.
The colt struggled at Flemington but earlier form in Sydney suggests he belongs at this level.
“He’s just got to get a mile. That’s the only box he’s got to tick,” Snowden said.
“But he’s such a relaxed horse and he has such a big action, I’m fairly confident he will run it out.”
For betting on The Beauford and Spring Stakes, browse the JHR bookmakers page.
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