A Snitzel blitz at Doomben

Snitzel asserted his status as a two-time Champion Sire of 2YOs at Doomben on Wednesday with eye-catching debut winner Thunder Mania, and his second juvenile stakeswinner in 5 days, Away Game.

Away Game joined 2YO colt Rathlin (by Fastnet Rock from Snitzel’s half-sister Wiener) to complete a stakes double for the Ciaran Maher & David Eustace stable with a dominant 2.25-length victory in the Boomer Bloodstock-sponsored $125,000 BRC Calaway Gal S. 1110m LR. 

Stable representative Annabel Neasham indicated after the race that both Away Game & Rathlin would head to the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic on 11 January. 

Congrats to the connections of Away Game winner of the @CraigRounsefell Calaway Gal Stakes at Doomben today. Purchased by @Ker_Radcliffe from @millparkstud in January for an all female ownership based inc. @hannahmathiesen and others. Luke Currie was aboard!
📷 – @MMcInallyPhotos pic.twitter.com/hZTJUaqkTK

— Magic Millions (@mmsnippets) December 18, 2019

A $425,000 yearling, bred by Mill Park Stud & Mills Thoroughbred Breeding Partnership and purchased by agent Kerri Radcliffe for Kentucky-based Hannah Mathiesen, Away Game is a sister to 2YO Listed winner Modern Wonder, both out of Elusive Wonder (by Elusive Quality), herself stakes-placed as a juvenile. 

Elusive Wonder has a yearling filly by Not A Single Doubt to be offered by Segenhoe Stud as Lot 270 at Magic Millions 2020. 

Wild Ruler, successful in last Saturday’s Inglis Nursery RL, and Away Game take Snitzel’s lifetime tally of stakeswinners to 95 and his record of 2YO stakeswinners to 38. 

There is nothing like debuting like a pro!

WATCH: 2yo Snitzel colt Thunder Mania (ex Imana) takes it all in his stride to win with ease at his first start @DoombenRacing #impressive 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/5fFPTXvbcF

— Arrowfield Stud (@ArrowfieldStud) December 18, 2019

Debutant Thunder Mania (ex Imana by Thunder Gulch) underscored the lesson about Snitzel 2YOs when he romped home  with a 33.4 last 600 to win the first race at Doomben for trainers John Symons & Sheila Laxon. 

Bought by part-owner Michael Kirby for $85,000 from Baramul Stud, Thunder Mania’s Magic Millions Classic odds shortened considerably after his win, but the colt will need another start to qualify for that race.

However, he is also nominated for Queensland’s inaugural $2.25 million Future Champions Series in May & June 2020, encompassing the Champagne S. G2, Sires’ S. G2 and the J.J. Atkins S. G1. 

Snitzel’s best 2YO crop to date, the 2014 cohort, produced only one stakeswinner before Christmas 2016, but ended that season with nine stakeswinners headed by Group 1 winners Invader and Summer Passage.

Away Game, Wild Ruler, Thunder Mania and debut-winning fillies Time Is Precious (with Gerald Ryan) and Diamondesque (trained by Peter & Paul Snowden) give a clear signal that Snitzel’s 2017 crop is poised for considerably bigger things in 2020.