Snitzel's fourth Ken Russell Classic winner

Snitzel's fourth Ken Russell Classic winner

Snitzel's fourth Ken Russell Classic winner

Snitzel’s 31st stakeswinner and 16th juvenile stakeswinner is also his fourth winner of the $125,000 GCTC Ken Russell Memorial Classic G3 in the past five years.

Surprise $61 winner Big Tree joined Hot Snitzel (2011 winner), Sizzling (2012) & Le Val (2013) on the race’s honour roll with a defiant neck defeat of Blueberry Hill. The favourite Regatta Rebel (by Redoute’s Choice) boxed on well to finish a half-neck away third, her second Group 3 placing in as many starts.

Big Tree, as strapping and solid as his name implies, was having only his second start for his Gold Coast owner, breeder & trainer Peter Balzen,  co-owner and breeder Tom Ware and owners R.J. Mckay & M.W. Buggy.

The 2YO colt is the fourth foal of the Octagonal mare Croft, a city-winning relative of Group 1 winners Benfica, Neroli and the top-class filly Riverina Charm who won the VATC 1000 Guineas, Rosehill  & Canterbury Guineas during the 1988/89 season.

Croft’s 2013 filly by Snitzel was purchased for $150,000 from the Newgate Farm draft by Wylie Dalziel Racing & Peter Moody at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.

Big Tree is the third juvenile stakeswinner this season for Snitzel, after Fireworks (ATC Widden S. G3) and Group 1-placed stakeswinner Odyssey Moon.