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Peter Snowden has always thought King Of Roseau had Group 1 potential, but the puzzle to get him there took a couple of years.
The four-year-old had lined up in some of the better races as a two and three-year-old, including a Pago Pago Stakes, San Domenico Stakes and Magic Millions Guineas, but fell a couple of lengths short in each of them.
So, this time last year, Snowden dropped him back into the BenchMark system, and since then, he has six wins from nine starts, prompting a shot at the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm.
Given his overall record of 24 starts for seven wins and seven placings, it shows the change in King Of Roseau’s fortunes.
“He just found his confidence and found out how to win. That’s the difference,” Snowden said.
“He won a couple of races in Sydney then [the Aurie’s Star Stakes] down the straight.”
“We spelled him and have spaced his runs since the beginning of the year and he has just kept stepping up.”
King Of Roseau comes into his Group 1 challenge on a winning run of three, which started with the Magic Millions Cup in January before February brought the Liverpool City Cup.
However, most important was his Takeover Target Stakes win at Gosford under 60 kilos a couple of weeks ago.
It has lifted him on to the second line of Kingsford Smith betting at $6, even though he has never been tried at Group 1 or 2 level before.
“That was a big win because he was wide and had to dig in to win,” Snowden said. “He knows how to win now, and he is stronger and ready for this challenge.”
“I know it is weight-for-age but it seems a good time for him to meet this company when he is at his best.”
“It is his best trip, the 1300m, he’s won three-from-three, over it and I think he will handle the step up in class.”
“We will see how Saturday goes, but the Stradbroke is there for him after it if he goes well.”
Snowden’s stable has been in form in the past month with nine winners in May at a 30 percent strike rate, and he will target another Brisbane Group 1 with Dark Jewel Classic winner, Tuileries.
“She was very good fresh at Scone, and we might just got straight to the Tatts Tiara with her,” Snowden said.
“She is another one that we have taken a while to work out, but she won with a big weight and living up to the opinion we had of her.”
