Encosta Gives Snowden First Winner

29th November 2007

A new page was turned for Woodlands Stud at Bendigo on Thursday when former stable foreman and now head trainer Peter Snowden produced his first winner Portimao (3g Encosta de Lago - Lady Viola, by Zabeel), a dashing bay gelding by Encosta de Lago.

Having his second race start and first run back from a spell, Portimao was easy in the market but found the line strongly to win the 1400 metre maiden by a length and a quarter

“I’m good now, I’m floating, it’s fantastic to get the first one up,” Snowden said.

“We’ve always been very successful stable and we like thing to keep rolling along so it’s very satisfying for my own peace of mind and it’s a good buzz for the staff down there and all of Crown Lodge and Woodlands.”

Portimao was bred by Woodlands Stud and is the first foal of the metropolitan winning Zabeel mare Lady Viola, who was purchased by Woodlands for $380,000 at the 2004 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when in foal to Encosta de Lago.

Woodlands Stud have long been great admirers of Encosta de Lago having raced the dual Group One winner Mnemosyne (Encosta de Lago - My Juliet, by Canny Lad), who won over $1.3 million in prizemoney.

At the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale this year they purchased seven yearlings by Encosta de Lago including a filly from Twyla that was offered by Coolmore Stud and was knocked down to them for $2.2 million, making her the highest priced filly of the sale.