A sense of urgency has crept into the Peter Snowden stable with Group One winner Skilled turning up in Melbourne ahead of schedule.The Commands colt stunned Snowden when he finished at the tail of the field when first-up in the Up And Coming Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm but he gets the chance to redeem himself in Saturday's Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m)."His first-up run dumbfounded Dad and that's why the horse has come down a bit early," Paul Snowden said."He was disappointing first-up bu

A sense of urgency has crept into the Peter Snowden stable with Group One winner Skilled turning up in Melbourne ahead of schedule.

The Commands colt stunned Snowden when he finished at the tail of the field when first-up in the Up And Coming Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm but he gets the chance to redeem himself in Saturday's Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).

"His first-up run dumbfounded Dad and that's why the horse has come down a bit early," Paul Snowden said.

"He was disappointing first-up but we jumped him out last Friday and he had a good hitout.

"We have poured the work into him ... and he is on track.

"He has done everything right since he's been here.

"He has settled in well to our routine, looks really good, but he has to do something on Saturday."

Skilled was one of the two-year-old stars of last season in Sydney, winning the Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m) after a close second to Yosei in the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m).

The Caulfield Guineas is his short-term goal before Darley sends him and Sir Rupert Clarke hope Kidnapped to race under the Godolphin banner overseas.

Snowden also saddles up the less experienced Backgammon in the Guineas Prelude but less is expected of him as he is resuming and he is best suited to longer races.

"Whatever he does on Saturday he's definitely going to improve on as the races get longer for him," Snowden said.

Skilled is $15 with TAB Sportsbet while Backgammon is $31 in a market dominated by last-start Golden Rose winner Toorak Toff at $2.70.

Meanwhile, Divorces get her chance to impress the Snowden stable in the Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m).

The Domesday filly was third to Skilled in the Champagne and honed her fitness with two barrier trials before being pipped first-up by More Strawberries in the Group Two Furious Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

"It was a big run last start and the 1400 metres again looks an ideal stepping stone for her to the Thousand Guineas," Snowden said.

"She has slotted in well in Melbourne and done a treat."

Divorces is at $7.50 in an open betting race headed by Ringa Ringa Rosie ($6.50) from Willow Creek and Sistine Angel at $7.