New Group winner for Snitzel in Japan

Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm has achieved many significant international successes, but on Saturday the stud made history much closer to home.

Northern Farm-bred Young Man Power became the first Japanese stakeswinner by Arrowfield’s leading young sire Snitzel, who shuttled to Japan in 2007 and 2011. He is the 29th stakeswinner and 18th Group winner by the brilliant son of Redoute’s Choice.

The 3YO colt prevailed in a desperately close finish of the Hanshin Arlington Cup G3, a 1600-metre contest on turf offering total prizemoney of approximately $760,000. Young Man Power won by a neck from Arma Waioli, with a nose back to Matenro Happiness.

Young Man Power is trained by Takahisa Tezuka for Juichi Hoshino, the team behind the Deep Impact filly Ayusan, winner of the 2013 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) G1.

Young Man Power is one of three winners out of Snapshot (by Sunday Silence), whose grand-dam is Alan Clore’s home-bred mare River Memories (by Riverman), a dual US Grade 1 winner in the 1980s.

Snitzel has had 54 winners to date from his two Japanese crops, including two Group-placed filies Leopardina & Rurinigana, and stakes-placed Floreal, as well as Young Man Power.

Among Snitzel’s seven Australian stakeswinners this season are 3YO colt Wandjina and 2YO filly Fireworks, both successful since New Year’s Day.

Snitzel was represented in Saturday’s Australasian racing by 2YO Odyssey Moon (2nd, ATC Skyline S. G2 at Warwick Farm) and new Group performer 3YO Mighty Maverick (3rd, ARC Mr Tiz Trophy G3 at Ellerslie in New Zealand).

Four yearlings by Snitzel have already sold for more than $500,000 this year, most recently the top-priced lot on the first day of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.  That was Yallambee Stud’s filly from Belle of the City, knocked down to leading South African trainer Brett Crawford for $560,000.

Nineteen lots by Snitzel will be offered during the next two days of the Sale at Oaklands.