King of Sparta wins G2 Expressway Stakes
King of Sparta is already the richest prize money earner China Horse Club has raced in partnership in Australia and after successive feature wins he’s poised to enhance that status further in the AUD5,000,000 The Quokka in Western Australia.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained gelding is shaping as a serious contender in what is the fifth richest race in Australia in 2024 based on the manner of his win in Saturday’s AUD300,000 G2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) and the AUD1,000,000 Magic Millions Sprint in January.
“It’s a juggling act I suppose. How we want to prepare [King of Sparta] to get him over there in as good an order as we can,” said co-trainer Paul Snowden after the Expressway Stakes.
“We’ll make that call probably in the next week or so but maybe just a trial. Obviously, we’ve got to compensate with the plane trip over.
“It’s really exciting for the ownership group and exciting for the horse to race for really good money. I know he’s been a great money-spinner for them, but it’s going to be a good trip away.”
LEADING EARNERS RACED IN PARTNERSHIP BY CHC
The expert handling of King of Sparta has seen his prize money tally swell to AUD3,390,050 placing him above a succession of G1 winning notables and lucrative race winners that includes current stars Militarize (AUD1,922,950) and Ozzmosis (AUD1,488,150). The duo may well bolster their own coffers this spring with the former making an auspicious return to racing against older horses when second to the ultra-impressive Fangirl in the G2 Apollo Stakes.
Elite performers including Dame Giselle (AUD1,349,400), Pride of Dubai (AUD1,336,100), Russian Revolution (AUD1,284,225), First Seal (AUD1,259,060), Communist (AUD1,098,565), Auvray (AUD1,051,538) and Madison County (AUD1,024,770) sit outside the top 10 earners.
Champion jockey James McDonald was given little trouble in the Expressway Stakes. Settling King of Sparta off the pace and moving into the content to close it out as he liked.
“I was actually (confident),” McDonald said.
“Lobbed into a lovely spot and the pace really quickened from the 600m. I just had to bide my time a little bit and he come up the rise under his own steam even though I was spotting them so far.
“He’s got a lethal turn of foot. He’s just a good horse, he’s so solid.”