A defiant late surge to victory has convinced champion trainer Peter Snowden that progressive performer Calanda is deserving of consideration for an ambitious winter program could see him compete in three races collectively worth more than AUD2 million.
Over the next eight weeks the China Horse Club colour bearer is likely to be set a program that will see him contest the $200,000 G3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m), the $400,000 Scone Guineas (1400m) and Queensland’s flagship sprint, the $1,500,000 G1 Stradbroke Handicap.
“Calanda is always a racehorse that both Peter and Paul [Snowden] have held in high regard and he franked that in his first preparation when coming from near last to win the lucrative Inglis Sprint,” said Michael Wallace, Head of Bloodstock and Racing for the China Horse Club.
“The manner of his return on Monday was exceedingly impressive and that allows for the consideration of some quality races in the coming months.
“The Snowdens will take Calanda along one race at a time but the opportunity is there to make a significant contribution to his ownership group in the coming months if he can continue to step up to each new challenge placed in front of him.”
Calanda lifted his career prize money to more than $251,000 in only five starts when coming from worse than midfield to win the $50,000 Bowermans Office Furniture Handicap (1100m) at Sydney’s Canterbury Park on the public holiday Monday.
The determined three-year-old was wide throughout the contest but was doing his best work late under strong riding to improve his record to three wins and two placings from only five starts.
Calanda races for a syndicate including Newgate Farm and Matthew Sandblom who, along with the China Horse Club, have enjoyed a stunning run of success of the Sydney Autumn Carnival headed by the high profile wins of Russian Revolution (1st G1 $700,000 Galaxy) and Invader (1st G1 $500,000 Inglis Sires Produce Stakes).
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