Snowdens looking to add cup to Ramornie with Touristic

Imported galloper Touristic hasn’t been tried beyond 2000m in 17 starts since joining the Snowden stable, but Peter Snowden says it’s the right time to test his staying ability at Grafton on Thursday.

Snowden has six Ramornie wins after Ka Bling’s success yesterday either solo or in partnership with son Paul, but the listed $200,000 Westlawn Finance Grafton Cup (2350m) has so far eluded him. Yulalona’s second in 2013 is his best result.

Touristic had been thought of as a 2000m horse, but Snowden said things appeared different this preparation and the Grafton Cup presented a good scenario.

“He’s had a few runs now and I thought it’s a good time to try him at a mile and a half,” Snowden said. “He was good the other day at the end of 2000m at Rosehill.

“I thought 2000m was his trip but this time in he seems a stronger horse. His win at Mornington was really good in a fast-run race. He kept coming and coming and was good late. And the other day the same thing again.

“I thought the last bit was the best part of his race.”

The five-year-old son of Frankel clocked the fastest last 600m of the McKell Cup back on June 29 when he ran 35.99 seconds (Punter’s Intelligence) to finish second behind Golden Path.

He was forced to make a long run from the back so did a lot of that work before the business end, posting 11.77s (600m-400m) and 11.94s (400m-200m) but simply gave away too much start.

“I’ve put visors on him; they seem to sharpen him up in his work without pulling too hard,” he said.
“It seems a fast run race to me and I thought drawn four it might be a perfect time to have him that little bit closer. If he can be midfield it would make his job that little bit easier.”