Rain Could Foil Snitzerland’s BTC Cup Bid

Gerald Ryan has begun his winter carnival assault in style but the weather will determine if Group One winning sprinter Snitzerland continues her campaign.

The Rosehill trainer had two stakes winners – Dances On Stars and Dothraki – at the Gold Coast on Saturday and the pair will stay in Queensland for the next few weeks of racing.

But if the predicted rain comes late this week it could spell the end of Snitzerland’s Group One prospects in the BTC Cup (1200m).

“It is weather dependant for her,” Ryan said.

“If the track is rain-affected on Saturday then she won’t run. And if she doesn’t run then she will probably go to the paddock.

“She would need to run at Doomben to go on to the longer races like the 10,000.”

The winner of the Lightning Stakes in February, Snitzerland failed to handle her first experience of a heavy track in the TJ Smith Stakes won by Lankan Rupee last month.

If she does not run, Ryan will rely on Hot Snitzel to fly the stable flag in the first Group One race of the Brisbane carnival.

The five-year-old is proven on all types of ground and goes to the BTC Cup as the last-start winner of the Group Three Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick.

He finished sixth, beaten just two lengths, in last year’s Stradbroke Handicap won by Linton at Eagle Farm.

Hot Snitzel has performed well in Brisbane in the past, winning the 2011 Group Two Sires’ Produce Stakes before finishing second to Benfica in the Group One TJ Smith.

Local champion Buffering is the early $2.90 favourite to win the BTC Cup ahead of Sidestep at $3.60 with Snitzerland and Spirit Of Boom at $8 and Hot Snitzel a $10 chance.

Sidestep will run for the first time in the care of John O’Shea, the new trainer for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Australia.

Snitzerland finished a close third in the Group Two Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm won by Temple Of Boom from his brother Spirit Of Boom.

Temple Of Boom is at $11 while Tiger Tees is at $15.

Trainer Joe Pride said Tiger Tees, third in the All Aged Stakes won by Japanese mare Hana’s Goal, would take his place in the BTC Cup if the track was softened by rain.

– AAP

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