What a difference a couple of months makes.
They were the thoughts of Paul Snowden after Sovereign Fund’s comprehensive victory at Doomben on Saturday.
The class of the colt’s victory – his second triumph from as many starts – has him equal second favourite at $7 to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Watch Sovereign Fund win at Doomben
Snowden thinks he is worthy of this status.
But it wasn’t long ago – when him and father Peter were still trialing their fast-emerging sprinter – when they thought he was far off being a Magic Millions contender.
“Honestly, probably six or eight weeks ago to think we’d be sitting here in this position with this horse I would think that it was highly unlikely,” Snowden told Sky Racing.
“He was an immature colt who did a lot wrong.
“He was very anxious and timid around and in between other runners.”
Sovereign Fund’s mentality was what the stable worked hard on before his stunning triumph on debut in the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic (1100m) on December 14.
“We really concentrated on that from that first group of two-year-old trials in September,” Snowden said of Saturday’s victor who went in as the $1.70 favourite.
“He was very new and very raw. Just to see what he’s done – we’ve tinkered with some gear and we’ve purposefully put him in those vulnerable positions at home in those trials.”
It worked a treat, and now Sovereign Fund is flying towards his Magic Millions assignment.
“What you saw at Wyong was a classic example of jumping and travelling, sitting behind in a good tempo,” Snowden said.
“He popped out and put them away. The versatility is there now to suggest that he can conquer anything.
“I just think the improvement keeps building. He keeps lifting the bar.”
The Snowdens will now welcome the increased betting interest in their talented young sprinter.
That is because they believe his best could still be just around the corner on his grand-final day on the Glitter Strip.
Stablemate Empire Of Japan is the $6 favourite across online betting sites.
“He (Sovereign Fund) will probably be in the second line of betting – he should be anyway, behind Empire Of Japan,” Snowden said.
“I think he’s still the No.1 seed – he’s still got that little bit of class edge about him.
“But what this horse has done to date – you cannot knock him.
“And I’ve got to say he’s still a run away from producing his PB.”
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