Snitzel strikes Gold on the Coast
Sensational young sire Snitzel went hunting for new stakeswinners at the Gold Coast today and came up with two in less than eighty minutes.
Pictured: Snitzel’s 15th stakeswinner Express Power, bred, raised & sold by Arrowfield, is seen here winning at Canterbury on 27 March. (PHOTO: Sportpix)
2YO gelding Le Val, from the Sydney winner Redaluca’s Gaze (by Intergaze), showed ability when second on debut at Eagle Farm last month and stepped right up in stakes company today to win the $100,000 Ken Russell Memorial Classic 1200m LR by 1.25 lengths from Londehero, with Diamond Oasis a short head away in third position.
Le Val is Snitzel’s third consecutive winner of the Ken Russell Classic, following Hot Snitzel in 2011, and Sizzling in 2012.
Le Val was bred by Jamie & Fiona Middleton, Mark Cullen, Arthur Mountier, Wayne Oxford & Albert Tory and sold under the Middletons’ Redbank North banner at the 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. The buyer at $110,000 was RMA Bloodstock, for owners Robert & Deborah Anderson, and trainer Noel Doyle.
Redaluca’s Gaze, whose immediate family has also produced 2YO stakeswinner Emotive and Imprisoned (9 wins inc. STC Missile S. G3), has a yearling filly by Snitzel and a weanling filly by Not A Single Doubt.
Arrowfield graduate Express Power, a 3YO daughter of South African Group 1-placed stakeswinner Lady’s Delight (by Local Talent), headed a quinella for the Kris Lees stable in the $125,000 Gold Coast Bracelet 1800m LR when she defeated Soapy Star by a length, with a further 3 lengths back to third-placed Zombie Dancer.
Bred by Arrowfield and John Leaver’s Planette Thoroughbred, Express Power was purchased for $140,000 at the 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, by Blue Sky Thoroughbreds & Mark Wallace, acting for Sydney-based owner Walter Power.
Express Power, now a 4-time winner, ran second three weeks ago to subsequent Australian Oaks G1 winner Royal Descent in the ATC Adrian Knox S. G3. Her major target in Brisbane is the Queensland Oaks G1 on 1 June.
Her dam Lady’s Delight – whose second dam is Spring Adieu, also grand-dam of Snitzel’s legendary grand-sire Danehill – has two NH time colts by Redoute’s Choice, the first owned by Bijoux Bloodstock in New Zealand and the second retained by Arrowfield & John Leaver. Lady’s Delight is now in foal to Charge Forward.
Dances on Stars, also a member of Snitzel’s 2009 crop, completed an excellent day at the Gold Coast by running third in the Gold Coast Guineas G3.
Le Val and Express Power increase Snitzel’s stakeswinner tally to 15, eleven of them achieving that status this season and helping him into the top 10 sires on the Australian General, 2YO & 3YO Sires’ lists.
Snitzel stands the 2013 season at a fee of $49,500 inc. GST.
