After the announcement that his wonderfully consistent mare Beaded would race on for another season, Sydney trainer Peter Snowden has also hinted at the big Melbourne Spring Carnival he expects from dual Group 1 winning colt Sepoy starting with his first-up run in Caulfield’s Vain Stakes.
Sepoy is set to resume racing in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield in August
Elusive Quality two-year-old Sepoy emerged as the year’s premier juvenile with their superlative six-start career that to date has produced five wins and a second.
Having earned more in their opening six-start season on the track than many horses hope to achieve over their entire careers, Sepoy already boasts five black-type titles including a Group 1 winning pair having saluted in both the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in February and the $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at their last start at Rosehill on April 2.
Now the racing world is eagerly awaiting the return of Sepoy, the colt to show whether he will fall victim to the curse that so often falls upon the best two-year-olds when they resume as a three-year-old.
Snowden confirmed that Sepoy, whose only defeat so far came on a bog Rosehill track when they finished second to Smart Missile in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) on March 19, has been back at work at his Warwick Farm stables for a month.
The trainer has pencilled in a five-race spring programme for Sepoy with the Listed Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 13 as the first-up run for the promising galloper.
Sepoy is then set to progress onto the $250,000 Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 3; the $500,000 Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night, September 30, a race won last year by gun galloper Hay List; the $200,000 Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1100m) on October 15 on Caulfield Cup Day; and then finally race in his spring ‘Grand Final’, the $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day, October 29.
There is also the chance that Sepoy, much like last year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Star Witness did this season, could progress onto an international race campaign in the future and would make a genuine Royal Ascot contender for 2012.
“He’s an exceptional talent,” Snowden said.
“Some of his wins as a two-year-old were unbelievable.
“He can run incredible time in his races but is so relaxed.
“It takes a rare talent to do what he has shown in his races. He dominates.
“The brief is to find top class stallion prospects he’s undoubtedly one of the best.”
In related news the Rodney Northam-trained Cautious Time, a full brother to Sepoy, broke their maiden status last Thursday with a big two and a half length win in a handicap over 1000m at Quirindi.
Purchased for only $14,000, Cautious Time is by Elusive Quality by Danehill mare Watchful as is Sepoy, and has now earned more than his purchase price back in winnings with the Thursday’s success boosting their total winnings to $16,500.
