Having unlocked the key to King Of Sparta, Peter and Paul Snowden continue to reap the rewards, again producing the horse fresh to score a powerful win in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes at Randwick.
In doing so, King Of Sparta claimed the scalp of Champions Sprint placegetter Buenos Noches, who was sent out an odds-on favourite but got back to last from an awkward draw and gave himself too much work to do before closing late for fourth.
The Snowdens have been carefully spacing King Of Sparta’s ($4) runs in recent seasons, and it has taken the horse to a new level of consistency.
After racing away with the Magic Millions Sprint at the Gold Coast on January 13, he was put on ice for Saturday’s Expressway Stakes (1200m) before unleashing his customary big finish to overhaul Coal Crusher ($10) by a long neck.
Malkovich ($13), who strung the field out and gave backers a great sight up the straight, was another neck away third.
“Less is more for him and he is paying us the dividends now,” co-trainer Paul Snowden said.
“We wanted to back the horse’s ability if they did go a little bit hard, which we did think was on the cards.
“We got the best out of him late, which was great.”
King Of Sparta has already been locked in for a slot in the $5 million The Quokka at Ascot on April 20 and Snowden says he is unlikely to race again before then.
It is instead his preference to give the gelding a barrier trial to keep him ticking over for the feature sprint.
Trainer Matt Smith was content with the return of Buenos Noches and said he had been concerned pre-race that the small field might make his horse’s task “tricky”.
Smith remains keen to press on to the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington next month, the track where Buenos Noches has recorded his two Group 1 placings.
“The barrier beat him, that’s all,” Smith said.
“He’s run super. You can’t win from there, but he’s run as well as he can.”
Coal Crusher was outstanding in finishing second after carting the field up to Malkovich in an effort that impressed jockey Tyler Schiller.
“I don’t think he can go much better, especially without his blinkers,” Schiller said.
“He was only just nabbed late ,he’s come back in fine form.”