Horse Racing

Sydney’s Warwick Farm Racecourse saw three top Group races take to the track, one of which was the $125,000 Group Three Up And Coming Stakes (1200m).

Peter Snowden-trained Blackball ran an emphatic race to claim victory over a top quality field of three-year-old colts and geldings.

Despite drawing wide with barrier 12, the lightly raced colt was forced to run out wide, and was the widest runner on the turn into the straight.

With hoop Tye Angland in the hot seat the pair powered forward, working their way through the leading pack to claim a first-up win.

The son of Canny Lad proved patience can be a virtue, and Snowden was delighted with his potential star of the spring.

Down the straight Blackball, runner up in the Group Two Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) earlier this year, reeled in Buffering by a half-neck which finished second, and Sea Lord into third – a further length-and-a-quarter back.

The second-placed Buffering proved his strength after starting from the widest alley, and managed to sit just off the pace for the majority of the race.

Trained by Robert Heathcote, the Mossman gelding could start with blinkers in his next jump after the suggestion by jockey Danny Nikolic.

David Payne’s Sea Lord was stunning in his third-placed finish. It was the colt’s second race start and proved far stronger than many had anticipated.

Snowden has pencilled in the Listed Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) as Blackball’s next up jump on September 4, while Buffering is set to jump in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1200m) on September 11.

Also taking place on Saturday at Warwick Farm was the headlining Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m) which saw Metal Bender claim victory and the Group Three Silver Shadow Stakes (1200,) which saw another Snowden prodigy claim the honours – Parables.

2010 Up And Coming Stakes Results