Snowden’s 'A-grader' that works better than Ravi set for Saturday assault

Clinton Payne - Thursday September 14

Champion trainer Peter Snowden is renowned for not getting ahead of himself with his horses so when he labels one it makes sense to take notice and the horse in question saddles up at Randwick on Saturday.

Missile Coda. Photo: Bradley Photographers

Four-year-old mare Missile Coda runs in a benchmark 84 handicap over 1200m.

The daughter of Smart Missile won her last start (video below) in emphatic style before being a late scratching at the same track two weeks later after playing up in the barriers.

"She's very, very talented. She's very good," Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, said. "She's an A-grader I'm telling you.

"Honestly, when she works with Ravi, she works better than her.

"Look that's only a comparison at trackwork but unfortunately, she's losing some of what she's got before the race at the moment.

"When she didn't play up at Canterbury the other day she showed what she's capable of."

Snowden said Missile Coda's barrier manners are the only think holding the mare back.

"She's just got an attitude that doesn't help her," he said. "It all comes undone when she gets behind the gates on raceday.

"It's a slow process, these things can't be fixed overnight. It takes time to get them relaxed and settled, it doesn't matter how much barrier work you do.

"At trackwork she's quiet as a mouse but get there on race day and any noise she hears she thinks the barriers and opening and she has to get out."

Missile Coda is the $4.20 favourite on Saturday and the second emergency but there is already one early scratching.

Meanwhile, Snowden is also expecting another solid showing from his The Everest-bound sprinter Redzel in a star-studded Group II The Shorts (1100m).

Redzel will clash with his The Everest rivals Chautauqua, English and Fell Swoop on Saturday after recording a strong first-up win in the Group III Concorde Stakes (1000m).

Redzel wins the Concorde Stakes.

"He's straight forward and starting to prove his worth now," Snowden said. "He'll run well again on Saturday."

Redzel is the $2.75 favourite for Saturday's set weights and penalties event ahead of Chautauqua at $3.80 and the $4 third favourite English.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.