Thronum takes Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley
“He has freshened up well. His gallops have been classy. A small but quality field and I can see him running well fresh.”
That was head trainer David Hayes’ assessment of Thronum’s chances before Friday evening’s $200,000 MVRC Australia S. 1200m G2. It turned out to be both accurate and a touch modest as the 4YO entire took early control of the race and stayed there to score by 1.4 lengths from Mr Sneaky and Stellar Collision.
Watch Thronum win the MVRC Australia S. G2.
It was a welcome return to the stakeswinner’s circle for the son of Snitzel who won two of his first three starts in as a late 2YO and then took out the ATC Rosebud H. LR for the Waterhouse & Bott partnership. That was the best seen of him at three and after a long break due to injury, he returned last November to win easily at Bendigo and run third in the MRC Kevin Heffernan S. G3.
As co-trainer Tom Dabernig said after the race, “He’s a well-bred colt, he’s got a stack of ability and he’s going places….We’ll be aiming at a Group One with him now.” Options include the Newmarket, the Oakleigh and the C.F. Orr.
Thronum is the first foal of Canadian juvenile winner Helena’s Secret (by Mr Prospector’s grandson Five Star Day) from the family of Champion racehorses and sires Street Cry & Shamardal. Bred by Highgrove & Widden Studs and Robert Anderson, Thronum was offered at the 2015 Inglis Easter Sale under the Highgrove banner and purchased for $300,000 by Sun Stud.
Helena’s Secret has 2YO and yearling fillies by Sebring, a weanling colt by Snitzel and a positive test to the reigning Champion Sire.
Thronum is Snitzel’s 19th Australian stakeswinner this season and his 47th lifetime Group winner.
Snitzel has four yearlings on offer at the upcoming Karaka Book 1 Sale, three at next month’s Inglis Classic Sale, eight colts at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale in March and a superb collection of 64 yearlings catalogued for April’s Inglis Easter Sale, including two colts & eight fillies in the Arrowfield draft.
