Media World chasing Stradbroke golden ticket in Fred Best

By Glenn Davis

A maiden Stradbroke Handicap will be the dream goal for Sydney trainer Peter Snowden if Media World is successful in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Snowden has won a host of the nation’s major sprints, but the Group 1 Stradbroke has been elusive so far.

He went close to winning his first Stradbroke with 2011 Doomben 10,000 champion Beaded who went down in a tight finish to the Stephen Farley-trained Sincero that year.

“I’ve never won the Stradbroke, but I’ve had a couple of placings and went close with Beaded who was just beaten after drawing wide,” Snowden said.

Snowden believes his $3 million Stradbroke dream next month is within reach for Media World.

A $15 chance in latest Stradbroke markets, Media World’s price will be slashed if the three-year-old colt can win the Fred Best Classic, which carries a golden ticket for the winner into the Stradbroke on June 14.

Media World is currently well down the order off Stradbroke entry and needs to win the Fred Best Classic to be guaranteed a start in Queensland’s premier sprint.

The well-bred Media World has won three of his 10 starts and is unbeaten in his two runs this campaign.

A son of Written Tycoon, Media World won first-up at Warwick Farm in the middle of April before an all-the-way win in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas on May 3.

Media World’s win in the Hawkesbury Guineas gave Snowden a record fifth win in the NSW feature.

“His Hawkesbury Guineas win was very solid,” Snowden said.

“He’s had two runs back this campaign and won both well.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more from him since Hawkesbury and he’s in fine order for the Fred Best.

“But, to get into the Stradbroke he’ll have to win.”

Bred by Yulong Stud, Media World was close to being gelded last year before Snowden was given another campaign with him as a colt.

A win at the highest level in the Stradbroke Handicap would make him a valuable sire when his racing days are over.

Media World was a $1.4 million buy at Sydney’s Inglis Easter sales two years ago and is a daughter of the stakes-winning mare, Meryl.

The Lee Curtis-trained Meryl won the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes at Doomben in 2017 and the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes at Moonee Valley the following year.