Third Group 1 placing for Sweet Idea

On the first Group One day of the new Australian season, Sweet Idea was the undoubted star for Arrowfield.

The 4YO daughter of Snitzel and Flidais lined up in a quality field for Saturday’s $400,000 MRC Memsie S. 1400m G1 – the first Group 1 race of the Australian season – and was quickly seen driving forward to set the pace, with three-time Group 1 winner Moment Of Change in close attendance.

Sweet Idea engaged top gear round the home turn and set sail for home, leaving Moment Of Change behind, but Dissident quickly emerged to challenge and then slip past her. However, Sweet Idea kept fighting right to the line and held off Puissance De Lune to secure her third Group 1 placing.

Sweet Idea’s jockey Craig Newitt said, “She tried her heart out. She got a nice soft breather midrace and the big horse (Moment Of Change) smoked up outside her coming to the corner. She let rip but the winner was too good.”

Bred by Arrowfield & Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd, Sweet Idea was purchased for $240,000 from Arrowfield’s 20102 Magic Millions Gold Coast draft by trainer Gai Waterhouse & agent James Harron.

Raced by a group that includes brothers David & Luke Henderson, and former AFL player Campbell Brown, Sweet Idea has been out of the money only twice in her 15-start career, and has earned prizemoney of $1.9 million. Her record now includes Group 2 victories and Group 1 placings at two, three and four.

Gai Waterhouse’s pre-Memsie Stakes comments could apply to Sweet Idea’s entire career: “…she is fit, she is tough and she will be right there at the finish.”

Flidais, a winning daughter of Timber Country and dual Group 1 winner Electronic, is also dam of Malaysian stakeswinner Rush and Australian winner Phantom Queen (both by Charge Forward), the unraced 3YO filly Surf Poet (by Charge Forward) and 2YO filly Sweet Sister & a yearling filly (both by Snitzel). Flidais is due to foal again to Snitzel next month.

Snitzel was also represented on Saturday by another Arrowfield graduate, 3YO filly Ygritte (ex Deputy Lil by French Deputy), third in the ATC Run To The Rose 1200m G3, her fourth Group placing in six starts for owner Carl Holt and trainer Gerald Ryan.

Those two performances have boosted Snitzel’s early-season Australian prizemoney beyond $700,000 – enough to maintain his lead on the General Sires’ list.