Following the almighty success of Sydney trainer Peter Snowden and the Darley Stable operation in the premier two-year-old showdowns during the Melbourne and Sydney Autumn Carnivals this year, the team is back in force at Hawkesbury this weekend with a quartet of runners looking to win the Darley Crown.
The $150,000 Listed The Darley Crown 2011 (1300m) is one of three black-type features at Hawkesbury’s standalone meeting this Saturday and owner Sheikh Mohammed will be represented in the 12-horse field of fillies and mares by Dysphonia, Kanzan, Jereszana and Screen in the Darley-sponsored showdown.
While The Darley Crown markets are currently lead by the Gai Waterhouse-trained mare Devils Arcade ($4.60) first-up for the season and Kris Lees’ Redoute’s Choice four-year-old Zingaling who won the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 26 ($4.80), Snowden has high hopes for his gallopers including $5 third favourite Kanzan.
Commands mare Kanzan is a stakes winner from last season having won the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1300m) at the Hawkesbury track last November.
Placed at their next two spring starts, Kanzan resumed this year with a first-up seventh beaten three lengths by Hurtle Myrtle in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 9.
On Saturday in The Darley Crown Kanzan is due to jump from barrier five with Corey Brown booked for the ride.
The next shortest-priced of the Snowden contingent is Lonhro mare Screen paying $10 having come up trumps with barrier two while fellow Lonhro four-year-olds Dysphonia, winner of the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) last December, and Jerezana follow at $13 and $21 respectively.
Snowden has seven other horses engaged across six other races at Hawkesbury on Saturday including Group placegetter Giresun and Octagonal gelding Chasse in the $150,000 Listed Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m).
“We always aim up at this meeting not only as a sponsor,” Snowden said.
“It is our way of paying them back for all their help.”
Other notable The Darley Crown contenders this year include the Chris Waller-trained Encosta De Lago mare Little Surfer Girl and Waterhouse’s Flying Spur four-year-old Flying Success looking to improve after finishing 11th in the Sapphire Stakes last start.
Meanwhile apprentice jockey Jason Collett has been booked for two rides at Hawkesbury on Saturday including the mount on Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm rep in the Darley Crown, Adulterer.
2011 The Darley Crown Final Field & Barriers
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 310X833X14 | ZINGALING | Kris Lees | Hugh Bowman | 11 | 57kg | 98 |
| 2 | 1X189317X0 | DYSPHONIA | Peter Snowden | Christian Reith | 10 | 56kg | 96 |
| 3 | 727X3123X7 | KANZAN | Peter Snowden | Corey Brown | 5 | 56kg | 93 |
| 4 | 14150X88 | LITTLE SURFER GIRL | Chris Waller | Nathan Berry | 3 | 56kg | 89 |
| 5 | 2X331X5720 | PURRPURRLENA | Grahame Begg | Brenton Avdulla | 1 | 55kg | 95 |
| 6 | 6X31264230 | FLYING SUCCESS | Gai Waterhouse | Tommy Berry | 7 | 55kg | 89 |
| 7 | 0124X24X70 | JEREZANA | Peter Snowden | Darryl McLellan | 12 | 55kg | 88 |
| 8 | 1X11247X | DEVILS ARCADE | Gai Waterhouse | Jay Ford | 9 | 55kg | 86 |
| 9 | 17X14211X4 | SCREEN | Peter Snowden | Joshua Parr | 2 | 55kg | 84 |
| 10 | 4X33341112 | WINNER TAKE ALL | Bill Prain | Rod Quinn | 8 | 55kg | 80 |
| 11 | 16X19370X8 | MYSTERIOUS LIGHT | Gerald Ryan | Josh Adams (a) | 6 | 55kg | 74 |
| 12 | 5239X1X216 | ADULTERER (NZ) | John P Thompson | Jason Collett (a) | 4 | 55kg | 72 |
