The number of black-type races, especially Guineas features, is thinning out as the season draws to a close but father and son, Peter and Paul Snowden, are continuing their success right into dusk of their training partnership.
Xidaki gave the duo their 203rd black-type victory in the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) at Sunshine Coast on a day of feature races transferred from the washed out card eight days earlier.
Toughness prevailed in the heavy conditions with the performance allowing Peter to set aside earlier doubts.
“It has been a bit stop and start with him but he’s just such a genuine racehorse,” Snowden said.
“He’s a real giver, he’s a real trier and those sort of horses get these wins.
A three-year-old gelding by Zoustar, Xidaki ($3.70) notched his third win in nine starts including his win in the Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m) in March.
“The preparation I gave him, I’ve been doubting myself all week and when we didn’t front up last week I thought it would be too hard a job,” Snowden added.
“I’ve got to say that I was worried. They weren’t the instructions we gave there before the race, to get that far back.”
Jockey Vlad Duric’s experience was telling in the finish.
“He didn’t have any favours early from the wide draw so I just took my medicine and went right back on him,” Duric said.
“When I peeled out I was trying to wait on him as long as I could but to his credit, he won the race. When he was challenged he wouldn’t let that horse pass him.”
Winning by a narrow short-head margin, Xidaki held off Victorian visitor Miss Aria ($9.50) with the Zac Lloyd-ridden Know Thyself a further length away in third.
Xidaki takes out the Winx Guineas in a thrilling finish for @SnowdenRacing1. pic.twitter.com/uluqey0KeY
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 14, 2024