Punters didn’t want to be with Cannonball in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) as he drifted from $5 at the open to start at double figures heading to post.
He led them all the way, however, to post a strong first-up win after a 161-day spell for the newly appointed trainers Peter and Paul Snowden.
Cannonball was able to pinch some slow sectionals early in the race before Brett Prebble popped the question turning for home, finishing off with a closing 600m sectional of 33.05s.
He stormed clear to score a nice win as Athelric clung onto second placing, while Quick Tempo stole inside runs to find third position.
Cannonball appreciated the tactics with the light weight and was able to produce a 1.3 length margin on the line, recording his third career win in stylish fashion.
2023 Maurice McCarten Stakes Replay – Cannonball
Co-trainer Paul Snowden spoke post-race on his progressive Capitalist colt, implying the wet tracks had hurt this galloper’s chances in the past.
“We got that inch of rain 12-18 hours before game day and once you start to take the jar off that track it would suit 99.9% of horses, but it takes the edge off him,” said Paul Snowden.
“We found that out a little bit throughout this preparation, once he does get on that track with a bit of jar in it there’s two of him.
“He’s always going to improve off the back of it. We’ve got the luxury of seeing the sectionals come up every furlong on the TV and he wasn’t going hard.
“He was going well within himself and I thought ‘gee he should have a little kick in the locker here, surely’. He was just too good for them and obviously Brett (Prebble) riding at that true weight of 53kg, it kicked in late.”
Brett Prebble was elated with the win going past the post on Cannonball and his post-race comments were reflective of that.
“He was a little bit fresh today,” said Prebble.
“He jumped really nice and the first 150m I thought ‘nice he’s not going to be too keen” but James (McDonald on Athelric) eyeballed him a bit and he grabbed the bit.
“He can do that, obviously the blinkers makes him focus but can also make him a bit aggressive too. He’s still a colt, I think he needs them on, but I’d love to put them on half way.
“Every piece of work he’s doing, every race, he’s only going to get tighter and fitter for it.”
“Obviously, he’ll need to because the bar is going to be risen, so I’ll believe he is going to take those steps.”
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