Written by Paul Vettise
Stronger (Not A Single Doubt) may have been named with a fair degree of optimism, but the colt has taken his moniker seriously and he lived up to all expectations with a gallant performance on a heavy Gold Coast track.
In a race that looked a two horse contest on paper, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Stronger was up for the fight and in a driving finish he edged out fellow Sydney 2-year-old and favourite Accession (Brazen Beau).
The visitors had the finish to the G3 TAB Ken Russell Memorial Classic to themselves with the filly Take Tea (Testa Rossa) the best of the rest, albeit a distant third.
“He is tough and he had the conditions to suit, he enjoyed the ground,” Paul Snowden said.
“He is tough and he had the conditions to suit, he enjoyed the ground.” - Paul Snowden.
“He was unlucky through the Sydney carnival, having to be dragged back from bad barriers and getting caught up. He handles the wet and his race fitness was another tick in the box.”
A debut winner before Christmas, Stronger successfully opened his autumn campaign on the Kensington track at Randwick before minor placings in the G3 Pago Pago S. and the G3 Kindergarten S. from the afore-mentioned awkward gates.
Rider Blake Shinn again allowed Stronger time to settle into his work before improving on the tail on Accession and they drew clear with the former gaining the upper hand in the shadows of the post.
“The race panned out well and followed the horse we wanted to,” Snowden said. “He didn’t get too aggressive and settled and got into the right part of the track, which was key.”
“The race panned out well and followed the horse we wanted to.” - Paul Snowden.
A decision has yet to be made whether Stronger makes a return visit to the Queensland winter carnival.
“The next step is probably a seven furlong race, but we’re going to take him home first and then assess things,” Snowden said.
Stronger was purchased at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by James Harron Bloodstock for $1,050,000 and is a half-brother to the black type performer Tiger Silk (All American).
Stronger as a yearling
Their dam Star Pupil (Starcraft {NZ}) is a sister to the dual Listed winner Ain’tnofallenstar and a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Bachman (All American) and Stepitup (Hussonet {USA}), the 2015 Singapore Horse of the Year.
Juvenile double
Meanwhile in New South Wales, trainer Mark Newnham and jockey Josh Parr collected their second juvenile winner of the week when Splintex (Snitzel) proved too swift for his rivals in the #theraces H. on the Kensington track at Randwick.
The victory followed the success of Diamond Thunder (Dawn Approach {Ire}) at the Warwick Farm meeting.
“We’ve got a few nice late-season 2-year-olds,” Newnham said, “This one, the one that won on Wednesday and a couple more to come out yet.”
Third on debut last month, Splintex showed early pace to cross from the outside gate and he was never headed to bring about the downfall of the favourite Spaceboy (Deep Field).
“Geoff and Mary Grimish bred him and it’s nice to get one for them, they’re really good people.” – Mark Newnham.
“He took good improvement from his first-up run,” Newnham said. “He’s a really nice horse, fool-proof.
“Geoff and Mary Grimish bred him and it’s nice to get one for them, they’re really good people.”
Splintex is a son of Acquired (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), a Group 2 performer who has also produced the stakes placegetters Acqume (Sepoy) and Invictus Salute (Exceed And Excel).
The dam is a half-sister to the G2 Reisling S. winner Hips Don’t Lie (Stravinsky {USA}), mother of the Listed Crockett S. winner Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock), who also finished third in both the G1 Golden Slipper S. and the G1 Blue Diamond S.
