Sires’ Produce Stakes aim for Tchaikovsky
Peter and Paul Snowden dropped the Redoute’s Choice colt to midweek grade at the ATC meeting at Gosford and the two-year-old responded with an emphatic victory in the Happy Days @ Turfcare Aus Plate (1200m).
Tchaikovsky opened his career with a fifth in last month’s Pierro Plate and headed for the Central Coast after an encouraging third in the Group Two Todman Stakes (1200m) to Golden Slipper-bound duo Aylmerton and Ef Troop.
“He resumed at a high level so coming back to midweek grade … he certainly had the class advantage,” Paul Snowden said.
He said the Sires’ Produce Stakes was the logical target.
“There’s probably no doubt the seven-furlong tempo is going to suit him down to the ground,” Snowden said.
Sent out as the $1.75 favourite, Tchaikovsky and Blake Shinn set the tempo on soft ground and cruised to the line 2/1/4-lengths clear of Wagner ($4).
California Concord ($31) was third on debut for the Snowden partnership, 3-1/4 lengths further back.
James Harron was relieved as a $1.3 million purchase at last year’s Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast skipped clear.
“He was showing a huge amount pre-Christmas but he had a bit of a setback,” he said.
“This was a bit of a test for the Sires’ so if he comes through well he’ll press on.
“He really ticks a lot of boxes, he’s just got to win a big race now.”