58th 2YO Stakeswinner for supersire Snitzel

Few stallions reach 58 stakeswinners in total, never mind in a single age category.

But then very few stallions can match the class & calibre of multiple Champion Sire Snitzel who now has that number of 2YO black type winners on his extraordinary record.

On statistics limited to southern hemisphere crops, that ranks him ahead of Exceed and Excel (54 2YO SW), I Am Invincible (47), Redoute’s Choice (39), Not A Single Doubt (29), Written Tycoon (19), Savabeel (17) & Zoustar (16). 

Te Akau Racing’s colt Return To Conquer brought up Snitzel’s new figure with an electrifying, all-the-way debut victory in Saturday’s NZ$110,000 Counties Challenge S. 1100m LR. He is Snitzel’s third winner of the race after Ethereal Star (2022) & Bavella (2018), and his 8th New Zealand stakeswinner, a tally headed by Group 1-winning 2YOs Summer Passage & Sword Of State.

His rider Wiremu Pinn said, “He gave me an unbelievable feel. To be honest, he hasn’t even really tried today. He’s just a freak of a horse…It was obviously his debut today, so he’s still got plenty to learn, but he’s a super horse.”

Snitzel colt Return To Conquer far too good in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes @TeAkauRacing @ArrowfieldStud pic.twitter.com/S7TTLLIzk1

— Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (@Ellerslie_Races) November 23, 2024

Bred by Mike Howard with former Blue Gum Farm owners Philip & Patti Campbell, Return To Conquer is the second and sadly, final foal of Vaujany, an unraced daughter of Lonhro and dual Group winner Portillo, and full sister of Ghisoni (Surround S. G2), from the family of Group 1 winner Snowland. 

The Snitzel/Lonhro cross has produced 4 stakeswinners and three other stakes performers, including Group 1-placed Love Poem, from only 22 named foals.

The colt was purchased for $1.3 million by Te Akau’s David Ellis from Blue Gum Farm at Magic Millions 2024. He is one of 6 seven-figure yearlings from Snitzel’s 2022 crop, the first to race and the second million-dollar Snitzel colt to earn black type this season, after Coolmore Stud S. G1 winner Switzerland.    

Trainer Mark Walker indicated that Autumn Group 1 targets in New Zealand and Australia are on the table for Return To Conquer, who will now enjoy a short spell before returning for post-Christmas racing. 

Snitzel has already posted 11 individual stakeswinners this season, including Arrowfield graduate Group 1 winners Lady Shenandoah & Switzerland, and all of them were sold as yearlings, 6 at Magic Millions and 5 at Inglis Easter. Snitzel’s career record stands at 153 stakeswinners, 21 of them successful at the elite level, including 6 juveniles.

He has 42 yearlings catalogued for the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, including 5 colts and 2 fillies in Arrowfield’s draft.