Peter Snowden will continue on a Villiers Stakes course with Parthian if the in-form galloper can handle his first stakes test at Rosehill on Saturday.With three straight wins alongside Parthian's name, Snowden is now working with a much more genuine racehorse than in previous preparations.It's a quality the leading trainer hopes will carry Parthian a long way in the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m)."His wins this preparation have all been different but they have all been strong and he's done a gr

Peter Snowden will continue on a Villiers Stakes course with Parthian if the in-form galloper can handle his first stakes test at Rosehill on Saturday.

With three straight wins alongside Parthian's name, Snowden is now working with a much more genuine racehorse than in previous preparations.

It's a quality the leading trainer hopes will carry Parthian a long way in the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m).

"His wins this preparation have all been different but they have all been strong and he's done a great job," Snowden said.

"He has handled soft ground okay and provided he runs well tomorrow I'll certainly give the Villiers serious consideration.

"But he needs to run well tomorrow."

The Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on December 18 is the feature mile race in Sydney during summer.

Parthian has earned his elevation into stakes company with an unblemished campaign which includes a last start victory on heavy ground at Randwick last month.

He lumped 58kg as he held off stablemate Khas Kura in a field of four.

"That was a good effort but he's up another level tomorrow and up in weight again (with 56kg)," Snowden said.

"There's a couple of handy horses in there, track conditions will definitely come into play and hopefully he's good enough and strong enough to run well again.

"He is racing in good heart which he wasn't last time in.

"He was running a lot of places but this time he's three for three so he's certainly finding the line better."

Rosehill was rated in the slow range on Friday, an improvement on the heavy rating given out at acceptance time on Wednesday.

"It's a slow seven and the track is improving all the time," course manager Lindsay Murphy said on Friday afternoon.

"We may pick up a storm or a shower overnight, we're in the lap of the gods, but if we don't it will continue to improve."

While Parthian is adept on rain-affected going, Snowden will wait until race morning before deciding on a Festival Stakes start for stablemate Dysphonia.

"If it's slow or heavy she probably won't run," Snowden said.

"She's definitely a dry tracker."

Snowden will look to get the day off to a flying start in the opening race with two-year-old Benfica in the Blackwoods Handicap (1100m).

Benfica won a trial at Warwick Farm last month but the track condition on race morning will also determine whether he lines up.

"He has good natural ability and that might be enough to get him home tomorrow, but he'll definitely be a better horse next time through," Snowden said.