By Glenn Davis
Team Snowden unearthed a future star when Eawase stormed home to win the Listed Bill Carter Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
Eawase, ridden by Mark Zahra, was well back in the early stages and travelled wide before unleashing a powerful finish to down Granny Red Shoes by 1-1/2 lengths in the 1200-metre feature.
Sizzling Belle was third, a further long head away.
Eawase is a daughter of former Group winning mare Karuta Queen who was a six-times winner including the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in 2011.
“She’s nothing like her mother who was a real flyer,” said co-trainer Peter Snowden.
“From what I saw earlier in the day it was going to be hard to make up ground and she was back and wide early on.
“She managed to get a good run but she appeared to hit a flat spot at one stage.”
Snowden believes Eawase, who beat stablemate Galina in her maiden victory at Warwick Farm earlier this month, is like to target the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) at Doomben on June 9.
“It (J J Atkins) is definitely a thought. It sounds good but she’s got to get there,” Snowden said.
“I’ve got a good opinion of the filly (Galina) she beat last start so she’s got a future.”
Eawase is owned China Horse Club who paid $500,000 for her at the Gold Coast Magic Million sales last year.
Meanwhile it was a special day for owners of Gracida who claimed the Listed Chief De Beers (1050m).
Gracida is owned prominent breeders David and Heather Pascoe who run the Oakey vet clinic on Queensland’s Darling Downs.
The Pascoe’s landed their first metropolitan winner in 16 years when Gracida won at Doomben in March.
Trainer David Vandyke has only been training Gracida for two preparations after he started his career with premier trainer Tony Gollan.
Gracida hauled in tearaway leader Spurcraft to score by a half neck with Tiyatrolani third, a further 1-1/4 lengths away.
“He’s not an easy horse to train and his barrier manners are questionable,” Vandyke said.
“To see him chase down the leader Spurcraft was an amazing effort.
“I told Jeff (Lloyd) to make sure he went hard and don’t hold him up.”
Lloyd said he was always confident Gracida could peg back Spurcraft but was worried Tiyatrolani would run over the top of both of them.
Racing Queensland webnews May 19