Media World wins the Hawkesbury Guineas for Peter Snowden
The superbly-bred Media World held off the late surge of Just Party to win the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m).
Snowden has a real affinity with the iconic Hawkesbury meeting with Media World giving him a record fifth win in the Guineas after previous successes with Exoboom (2021), Military Zone (2019), Limes (2013) and Free Wheeling (2012).
The master trainer has also won five Clarendon Stakes including with Media World last year.
Media World becomes a rare dual winner at the Hawkesbury stand-alone and joins Royal Discretion (2007-08) as winners of the Clarendon Stakes-Hawkesbury Guineas double.
'This is a very good race meeting and I like to target it with the right type of horse,'' Snowden said.
'We deliberately held Media World back with the Hawkesbury Guineas in mind for him.
'It's great that he can come here and win another nice race.''
Media World ($9), ridden by Tyler Schiller, held off the fast-finishing ($5.50 equal favourite) to win the Guineas by a nose with Zeitung ($12) one-and-a-half lengths away third.
� Media World hangs on in the G3 @hawkesburyrc Guineas and makes it two in a row! @SnowdenRacing1 | @G1TySchil | @YulongInvest pic.twitter.com/rip3F1hXjK
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025
Candlewick ($5.50 equal favourite) had the run of the race but she faded late to finish sixth, beaten just over there lengths.
Schiller said he was able to give Media World a 'breather' in the middle stages of the race which proved crucial in the sprint to the line.
'Once he did quicken from the top of the straight, although the challengers were there he always felt like he was toughing it out,'' Schiller said.
'When it counted he was in front on the line, which was good. He is a very sharp horse.
'Pete was more worried about second-up after having a tough run first-up that he was going to be a bit soft but to see him strong right through the line was great.
'I know that other horse dashed at him but he felt like he kept going through the line. He is going to improve into his preparation again, he's a really honest horse.''
â– â– â– â– â–
â– â– â– â– â–
Snowden said he was concerned that Schiller might have made too much use of Media World early to get across from his wide barrier and find the front.
'Media World was a touch slow to jump and I thought he might have made a bit too much use of him early to get there but once he did, the horse relaxed really well,'' Snowden said.
'He got into a lovely rhythm. He's got that really good skipping action and he quickened nicely so it was a good result.'
Media World is by champion sire Written Tycoon out of the stakes-winning Meryl and was purchased by Yulong for $1.4 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale two years ago.
Breeders Francis and Christine Cook kept a share in Media World and were rewarded with the colt's valuable Group 3 win.
'This colt was Meryl's first and it was Written Tycoon's last service at Arrowfield and we got it at a good price there before he went down to Yulong,'' Francis Cook said.
'We ran second with Dalchini beaten a nose (to Mr Mozart in the 2022 Hawkesbury Guineas) but to get across the line with a horse we bred, I'm a bit teary.''
Snowden said there was some thought given to gelding Media World last year.
'We were very tempted to geld him but Yulong wanted to give me one more chance with him as a colt and I'm glad they did,'' Snowden said.
'Already its paid dividends, he's won a Group race here today and I hope he can go on further and go to Brisbane and do something else.
'I will take him to Brisbane for the Fred Best (Classic) next. I'm hoping he could emerge as a Stradbroke Handicap – he's heading in the right direction, that's for sure.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Peter Snowden believes impressive Randwick winner Grand Prairie can measure up in the spring
Master trainer Peter Snowden added another promising youngster to his growing spring arsenal when blue-blood colt Grand Prairie returned with a bang at Randwick Kensington on Wednesday. Less than a month after brilliant stablemate Raging Force stamped his authority at the same track, Grand Prairie highlighted his spring credentials with a determined first-up success. Grand Prairie ($6) battled hard late to hold off the Chris Waller-trained Pictor ($31) in the TAB Maiden Plate (1100m). Both horses race in the colours of heavyweights Yulong, which bred Grand Prairie from its ever-growing broodmare band. Grand Prairie is by Written Tycoon out of Group 1 winner Viddora, the latter of which was a was sold to Yulong as a breeding prospect for $2.55m in 2020. 'He is a nice horse, we've always liked him,' Snowden said. 'He is still learning, having a look around at other horses and when he got to the front he stargazed a little bit. 'That's good because he is still wining and doing that because you know with more race experience, the better he will get.' Grand Prairie just does enough to hold off Pictor and wins at Randwick-Kensington for @SnowdenRacing1! 🙌 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 16, 2025 • Snowden is still working out whether Grand Prairie is an out-and-out sprinter or whether he will be suited stepping out to 1400m to a mile. With the spring carnival right just around the corner, the Randwick trainer will have plenty of options to choose from in the coming months. 'He is in the right time of year and is ready to launch,' Snowden said. 'There is lot of good racing coming up. It is up to him whether he keeps stepping up but he has a great pedigree out of a very good mare. 'It's pleasing to have the Yulong horses going well. 'It's not a bad race either, there is a bit of depth in that so the fact is he has won and won like that, and he's still learning.' It's an easy watch at the Kenso track with Custom firing home to take out the third! 🚀 @JamesCummings88 | @ZacLloydx — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 16, 2025 There will be no shortage of trainers putting their hand up to take over the training duties of exciting Godolphin filly Custom. The daughter of Street Boss made a sensational return from a break when she bolted home from back in the field to score by 1¼ lengths in the Drinkwise Maiden Plate (1100m). Custom is currently trained by James Cummings but Godolphin will move to a public training model on August 1, meaning the filly will find a new home. That new stable is still to be confirmed.
The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
Snowden out to continue winning start with Cluedo at Newcastle
Port Macquarie-based trainer Paul Snowden will be out to continue the winning start to his solo training career at Newcastle on Tuesday when last-start victor Cluedo contests the Newcastle Herald F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m). Snowden only has a small team in work but is slowly building his stable, and the support of the Moreton family, who race Cluedo and previously raced group 1-winning sprinter Gold Trail, has been very much welcomed. 'Cluedo was only having her first start for me when she ran at Taree at her last start and she won impressively,' Snowden said. 'She's up a little in grade on Tuesday, but we have Aaron Bullock sticking with her, and the big track at Newcastle should suit.' Cluedo is up against a couple of Ciaron Maher-trained gallopers in Spaceballs and Cheeky Dancer, as well as the Mitchell Beer-prepared Butterfly Style, which has won her past two starts. 'It's by no means an easy race, but Cluedo is heading in the right direction,' Snowden said. 'She should run very well again.' Snowden has enjoyed success with Lunaite winning a couple of races since he took up training. His only other starter so far, Cash And Cards, finished fifth at Port Macquarie and is an acceptor for Grafton on Thursday. 'The team is coming together nicely,' Snowden said. 'And I'm grateful for the support of the Moreton family. They have a number of horses in the stable, and we look to have some exciting times ahead.' Loading
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Snowden out to continue winning start with Cluedo at Newcastle
Port Macquarie-based trainer Paul Snowden will be out to continue the winning start to his solo training career at Newcastle on Tuesday when last-start victor Cluedo contests the Newcastle Herald F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m). Snowden only has a small team in work but is slowly building his stable, and the support of the Moreton family, who race Cluedo and previously raced group 1-winning sprinter Gold Trail, has been very much welcomed. 'Cluedo was only having her first start for me when she ran at Taree at her last start and she won impressively,' Snowden said. 'She's up a little in grade on Tuesday, but we have Aaron Bullock sticking with her, and the big track at Newcastle should suit.' Cluedo is up against a couple of Ciaron Maher-trained gallopers in Spaceballs and Cheeky Dancer, as well as the Mitchell Beer-prepared Butterfly Style, which has won her past two starts. 'It's by no means an easy race, but Cluedo is heading in the right direction,' Snowden said. 'She should run very well again.' Snowden has enjoyed success with Lunaite winning a couple of races since he took up training. His only other starter so far, Cash And Cards, finished fifth at Port Macquarie and is an acceptor for Grafton on Thursday. 'The team is coming together nicely,' Snowden said. 'And I'm grateful for the support of the Moreton family. They have a number of horses in the stable, and we look to have some exciting times ahead.' Loading
