By Glenn Davis
The training partnership of Peter and Paul Snowden are hopeful Ranges can give the stable another Healy Stakes triumph at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Interstate raiders have dominated the 1200 metre Group 3 feature in recent years including 'Team Snowden' who claimed the 2018 version with Brave Song.
Co-trainer Paul Snowden also won the race in his own right with Dothraki in 2014 while father, Peter, claimed it with Pinwheel in 2010.
The last locally-trained sprinter to win was in 2015 when Into The Red was successful for the late Kelso Wood.
Ranges finished third in last year’s Healy Stakes behind the Richard and Will Freedman-trained Juan Diva after coming off a win in the Listed Hinkler Handicap at Eagle Farm.
It’s a similar path the Snowdens have followed this year with Ranges who finished third at his last start behind the Tony Gollan-trained King Kapa in the Hinkler Handicap.
Paul Snowden is hopeful a change of luck in the barrier draw will boost Ranges‘ hopes of victory.
“I’ve been a bit sick and tired of him drawing wide and I would not be starting had he drawn bad again,” Paul said.
“He jumped from 12 last start in the Hinkler and was wide all the way.
“He drew wide at his previous start in the ATC Cup at the Sunshine Coast and only got beaten two lengths.
“He’s a genuine sprinter and if he runs well, he’ll go back to Grafton and try to defend last year’s Ramornie Handicap win.”