It could well be a case of $680,000 well spent after Empire Of Japan finished strongly to win the $200,000 Breeders’ Plate at Randwick on Saturday.
Peter and Paul Snowden’s colt found took the lead from Mach Ten with 120m to go, and went on to comfortably win by three lengths.
To salute in such fashion in the Group 3 sprint over 1000m was a fine way to begin his career.
2022 Breeders’ Plate Replay
Paul Snowden still sees plenty of upside in his star short-distance runner.
“He’s still got a long way to go, like a lot of horses in this race today,” he said.
“It’s just the mental aspect that has been missing in this breed for a little while, especially the dam’s side.
“It’s the second horse we’ve had out of this (dam, Ichihara) and it was pretty evident (the first horse) lacked a little bit of ability.
“But this bloke makes up for that and he’s heading in the right direction.”
Snowden said if Empire Of Japan does not start in the Golden Gift on November 5, he would make sure to have him in prime condition for the Golden Slipper on March 18 next year.
“It’s prizemoney dependent with the ballot, so first starter, it’s going to be hard to get in,” he said.
“You’re going to need a bit of money on your side.
“But there is also a Golden Slipper to prepare for as well, so it’s all about timing.
“This horse isn’t screwed down at all for today’s event – what you see is what you get with him.
“He’s got a fair bit of ability and he’s got a good turn of foot.”
Winning jockey James McDonald echoed those thoughts.
“Smart horse. A colt who takes everything in his stride,” he said.
“I actually jumped him out at the official jumpouts and he was a little hot that day, and the stable’s done a good job to put a lid on him and put him to the trials and he ran extremely well at the trials.
“I was happy he just wasn’t a jump and run two-year-old which I pleased about, and he gave me really good confidence coming in.”
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