The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained import Disclaimer (GB)
captured a Listed race at Goodwood when trained by Sir Henry Cecil but he had
just one opponent in that race.
The 5yo gelding faced a more competitive field of 13 runners
in Thursday's $175,000 Group III XXX Newcastle Gold Cup and he prevailed in
some style defeating Brigantin (USA) by one and three-quarter lengths with the
luckless Wish Come True (IRE) making it a clean sweep for the imports.
A 180,000 guineas purchase out of the Juddmonte consignment
at the 2013 Tattersalls Autumn horses In Training sale, Disclaimer won four
consecutive races for Cecil before failing at Group level in England.
He began life in Australia under the care of John O'Shea but
failed to live up to expectations in his first prep.
"John gave him his first prep out of quarantine and it is
fair to say that he was very light and he didn't have much horse to work with,"
Peter Snowden said.
"He really did furnish whilst he was out and I've had the
benefit of that good spell and he showed that today.
"It took me a while to work him out. I was a bit kind to him
early. I just thought that he wasn't a horse that you could work hard.
"He is eating twice
as much as he was before, he just feels like a different horse now."
Disclaimer is out of the Sadler's Wells mare Novellara one
of seven stakes winners out of the magnificent broodmare Modena (Roberto).
They are led by the Group 1 Sandown Eclipse Stakes and Group
1 Phoenix Champion Stakes winner Elmaamul (Diesis) and Group 1 Epsom Oaks and
Group 1 Ascot Fillies Mile winner Reams of Verse (Nureyev).