Tatura trainer Ryan Hooper can kick-start the festive season with a winner at Seymour this afternoon.  He saddles up first starter Royal Snob and she could be a sneaky each-way chance in the luxbet.com Maiden (Race 3 at 2.00pm AEDT).

Royal Snob will be at double figure odds but Hooper’s stable star Jeuneyman will be at a much shorter quote in the Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day.  The Jeune gelding flew home first-up when beaten a length by Johnny Fiasco at Caulfield over 1100m on December 5.

Hooper bought Jeuneyman as a weanling for $13,000 and he has now won 7 races and over $270,000.

Royal Snob (4m Val Royal – So Racey by Racer’s Edge) was also purchased as a weanling and she was even cheaper at just $1,250 from the 2006 Inglis June Sale at Oaklands Junction.

Royal Snob is by former Eliza Park sire Val Royal, a Royal Academy sire who was a G1 winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile.  She is the first foal to race from So Racey whose dam So Snob (Kenmare) was a Listed winner in France.  She is a half-sister to the dam of Brazilian Group 1 winner Sandpit who shuttled to Vinery Australia for four years until 2003.  He sired 65 winners down here at a 55% strike rate.

Royal Snob has been handled with kid gloves and appeared in public for the first time when a two length winner of a Wangaratta trial last Wednesday.