Sousa Strikes Up The Band For Darley Crew

Sun Herald

Sunday October 5, 2008

By JOHN SCHELL RANDWICK

A TEARY-EYED Peter Snowden could not contain his excitement after Sousa ploughed through the wet to romp home in yesterday's Spring Champion Stakes.

The six-length win gave Snowden his first group 1 success for the Darley operation since it took over Bob Ingham's Woodlands Stud racing and breeding interests for more than $500 million earlier this year.

"This is a great result for all of us, the staff and everyone at Darley," Snowden said after Corey Brown rode what the trainer described as a "perfect race". "I told Corey to have no hesitation in going to the front and to ensure it was a solid staying test," he said.

"He did it brilliantly. The horse is still on the way up. That was only his third run back from a spell and now he's won the Newcastle Spring Stakes and this group 1 today. He could go to Melbourne now."

Sousa accounted for world champion sprinter Takeover Target's half-brother Predatory Pricer, which worked home well, with the Victorian Excelltastic fighting on for third in the 2000m event.

Predatory Pricer's trainer, Paul Murray, said his colt was headed for a spell.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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