The Peter Snowden stable is coy about how far impressive Sandown winner Launay may progress this campaign but is confident he is a gelding with an exciting future.The Lonhro three-year-old was dominant as he charged away to a five-length win in Wednesday's Betfair Handicap (1400m) at Sandown at only his third race start.Launay won first-up at Kilmore three weeks ago and Paul Snowden said improvement was noticeable with every run since his debut third at Geelong last September."He improved from w

The Peter Snowden stable is coy about how far impressive Sandown winner Launay may progress this campaign but is confident he is a gelding with an exciting future.

The Lonhro three-year-old was dominant as he charged away to a five-length win in Wednesday's Betfair Handicap (1400m) at Sandown at only his third race start.

Launay won first-up at Kilmore three weeks ago and Paul Snowden said improvement was noticeable with every run since his debut third at Geelong last September.

"He improved from what he did at Kilmore and he's improved again today," Snowden said.

"He's got talent, no risk about that, but he's a green, immature horse and just needs racing to get him there."

Launay was forced into the pacemaker's role at Sandown and Mark Zahra controlled the race, urging him clear in the home straight to an easy win.

Tenzing was never going to catch the winner and ran into second place a head in front of Miss Republic.

"We didn't want to lead today but when they jumped they took hold and Mark used his initiative and went forward," Snowden said.

"He had a pretty easy time of it and it was pretty much all over after a couple of furlongs."

Snowden was guarded about Launay's immediate future but suggested he may have only one more run this preparation and doubted he would get past 1600m this campaign.

"Who knows how quick he can jump from race from race but he was 10 times better today (than at Kilmore) and was more fluid in his action and let down a lot better," he said.

"We will wait and see what happens.

"These were pretty good horses but they pretty much gave it up to him.

"He doesn't know what he's doing and out in front today he was floating around.

"We wanted to run him here after he won last start and I think it has helped him.

"He has built up again from that and he's got a lot stronger. "

Meanwhile, Danny O'Brien sees his winning run with a small group of two-year-olds as an encouraging sign for the future.

O'Brien is best known for his success with older horses but with Star Witness one of the favourites for the Blue Diamond Stakes he produced another potential juvenile star in Wednesday's Glenfern Plate (1200m).

O'Reilly filly Shamrocker trained on from her debut fourth at Mornington to score in a three-way photo-finish from Zubbaya and Bedhrah.

O'Brien has had plenty of success with O'Reilly's progeny, most notably with 2007 Caulfield Cup winner Master O'Reilly.

"It was a good solid finish and hopefully this filly can progress," O'Brien said.

"She did everything right today and showed good fight."

He said the Group Three Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington could be a suitable race for her on March 6.