It seems the future of two of Australia’s best juvenile horses lies in England after Peter Snowden confirmed that Helmet and Sepoy would more than likely head overseas after the spring carnival.
Sydney racegoers may not get another chance to see Sepoy in action
Snowden confirmed that Helmet would be transferred to the Godolphin team in England next year and hinted that the same might be on the cards for Sepoy.
Snowden is in England to assess the Godolphin establishment and get a handle on which of his horses owned by Sheikh Mohammed would have promising European careers ahead of them if they were to be sent to the Northern Hemisphere.
“It is not just about the good ones going over, it is finding the right horses that will fit in to the system as well,” Snowden said.
“With Sepoy and Helmet, their ratings will be high and they have to compete at the elite level. Because they are southern hemisphere bred horses, they will be six months behind and probably won’t be competitive until probably June or July next year, that’s when they will be able to show their best.”
Snowden confirmed that both horses would run in Melbourne during the spring carnival before the overseas options were set in stone.
Snowden has enjoyed unparalleled success with his two year old’s this racing season.
Sepoy became the first horse since 1989 and just the fifth overall to win the Blue Diamond Stakes and the Golden Slipper in the same year.
After that Snowden bought Helmet to the races and after some nervous moments early on his career, he went on to win the Inglis Sires Produce Stakes and the Champagne Stakes. Snowden captured the final two year old Group One of the season when Benfica took out the TJ Smith Stakes in Brisbane.
“Sepoy’s going really well and is fairly forward,” Snowden said.
“He will do his racing in Melbourne during the spring with the Vain Stakes his comeback race, and then we will look at running him in the Manikato Stakes.
“He has got to come back yet – it is always the big bogey about two year old’s and whether they come back at three, but if he reproduces his two year old form he will be more than suitable for the big English sprint races next year.”
While Sydney racegoers will not get the chance to see Sepoy race (possibly ever) Helmet will turn out for Snowden at Rosehill.
“Helmet is about two weeks behind Sepoy in his preparation. He will be ready to resume in the Run to the Rose on August 23.”
Snowden’s other Group One winning two year old, Benfica, has only just resumed work and will be given a very light spring campaign.
“We wanted to have a good season with the two year old’s but what we managed to achieve has been unbelievable,” Snowden said.
