Barrier rogue Holy Snow has been cleared to take his place in the 2018 Group 1 $1m Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.
Holy Snow, above, has been cleared to take his place in the 2018 Kingston Town Classic at Ascot in Perth. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Holy Snow has a history of being difficult at the barriers before he was transferred to the Darren Weir stable after racing under the Mick Price banner in the early part of his career.
Weir’s travelling foreman Jarrod McLean took Holy Snow to the Belmont trials on November 26 but the four year old was in an uncooperative mood and was difficult to load into the barriers and then missed the start by five lengths before finishing third of three in the 1000m trial.
West Australian stewards ordered Holy Snow back to the trials and the Fastnet Rock stallion was on his best behaviour in a Lark Hill barrier trial on Monday and will now take his place in the weight for age Kingston Town Classic and will have the blinkers back on.
Apprentice Ben Allen was aboard Holy Snow in the Lark Hill trial but Mitchell Pateman takes over in the Kingston Town Classic.
“The horse was well behaved today (Monday),” Ben Allen told The West Australian.
“I think his barrier issues have been cured.”
Holy Snow is coming off a last start second to Fifty Stars in the Group 3 $150,000 Araza Sandown Stakes (1500m) at Ladbrokes Park at Sandown on November 17 and has been listed as a $14 chance for the Kingston Town Classic with Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Weir stable will also saddle up $18 hope Iconoclasm with Dean Yendall replacing Craig Williams who was aboard the four year old for his last start eighth to Galaxy Star in the Group 1 $1m Kirin Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in Perth on November 24.
The three year old filly Arcadia Queen, with only 50kg on her back, is the clear cut favourite at $2.80 with the ‘Wiz Of The West’, William Pike, in the saddle again after guiding the filly to victory in the Group 2 $500,000 Sky Racing W.A. Guineas (1600m) at Ascot on November 24.
Pike also had the option to ride Arcadia Queen’s stablemate and $4.80 second favourite Galaxy Star, who he rode to win the Railway Stakes, but decided to stick with the lightly weighted Grant and Alana Williams trained filly.
Betting for the 2018 Kingston Town Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.80 Arcadia Queen, $4.80 Galaxy Star, $6 Trap For Fools, $8.50 Material Man, $14 Holy Snow, $16 Gatting, $18 Iconoclasm, Perfect Jewel, $26 Mister Sea Wolf, $34 Achernar Star, Great Shot, Star Exhibit, $101 Elegant Blast, Heart Starter, Prying Tom.
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