Snitzel's stakes double at Randwick

The Snitzel express kept rolling on Saturday with a second stakes double to follow last weekend’s successes by Farson at Caulfield and Summer Passage in New Zealand.

This time, however, the brilliant son of Redoute’s Choice landed his 1-2 at on Guineas Day at Royal Randwick where a Heavy9 track tested determination as well as class.

First into the stakeswinner’s circle was 3YO filly Samantha, who nabbed the $125,000 ATC Fireball S. 1100m LR with a big run from near the back of the field to collar the Redoute’s Choice pair Glenall & Super Maxi in the final 50 metres.

Early in her career, Samantha reminded trainer Gerald Ryan of Group 1 winner Snitzerland and she joins that wonderful filly and several other stakeswinners by Snitzel on the Ryan stable’s record. She is also Snitzel’s second consecutive winner of the Fireball Stakes, following Redzel’s win last year.

Watch Samantha win the ATC Fireball S. LR.

Gerald said of Samantha, “She is as good a wet tracker as I’ve seen at home. She just ploughs through it…She is a bonny little filly that just tries her heart out.”

A home-bred for Corumbene Stud, Samantha is the second foal of Icedginger (by Tale of the Cat), from the family of Blue Diamond G1 winner True Jewels. She has now won three of her five starts and will be aimed at the $200,000 P.J. Bell S. G3 at Randwick on the first day of The Championships, 1 April.

Five races later it was the turn of consistent 5YO mare Elle Lou to step out in the $150,000 ATC Aspiration Quality H.1600m G3. She too settled at the rear of the field, but jockey Glyn Schofield kept her on the fence until well into the straight when she joined battle with Song and Laughter. Elle Lou kept up a strong gallop to pinch the winning break while Alegria and Vandancer rattled home to fill the placings.

Watch Elle Lou win the ATC Aspiration Quality H. 1600m G3.

Schofield was not surprised by the mare’s effort. “She just did her thing, gets back and runs on. I was a bit unsure at the mile but she motored home.”

For trainer Chris Waller it was mission accomplished. “It’s been a bit of a plan since she was unplaced at the Magic Millions to find this race. Anything from now will be a bonus.”

Elle Lou was bred by Scott Gibson and bought for $70,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2013 Magic Millions National Sale. Now the winner of 7 races and more than $450,000 for her six owners, she’s the first stakes performer out of Snipify, a stakes-placed daughter of Snippets. Snipify has a weanling colt by Snitzel and is again in foal to him.

Snitzel has 44 yearlings catalogued for next month’s Inglis Easter Sale, fourteen of them to be offered by Arrowfield.