Arrowfield graduates top 3YO Classification

Arrowfield Inglis Easter graduates Switzerland & Lady Shenandoah are the Champion 3YO and Champion 3YO Filly on the 2024/25 Australian Classifications released this week by the Australian Classifications Committee of Racing Australia.

They were awarded ratings of 118 & 115 respectively to head the 3YO Sprinter & 3YO Middle (Filly) categories. A third Arrowfield graduate, Caulfield Guineas winner Private Life (Written Tycoon-Aliyana Tilde), is rated 114 in the 3YO Middle & Sprint categories. He was a $650,000 Coolmore purchase from Arrowfield’s Magic Millions draft and, like Switzerland & Lady Shenandoah, was trained by Chris Waller.

In addition, the brilliant Australian Derby winner Aeliana (Castelvecchio-Temolie), also prepared by Chris Waller, earns a rating of 113 to head the 3YO Long & Extended (Filly) category, and Marhoona (111) tops the 2YO Filly category to become Snitzel’s 8th Champion 2YO, after Away Game, Best Of Bordeaux, Estijaab, Invader, Shinzo and, in New Zealand, Summer Passage & Sword Of State.  

And Giga Kick (Scissor Kick-Rekindled Applause), born & raised at Arrowfield, is the Champion Older Sprinter with a figure of 120.

Switzerland (Snitzel-Ms Bad Behavior), bred by Arrowfield & Cloros Bloodstock, was purchased for $1.5 million by Coolmore and won 3 of his 4 juvenile starts including the Todman S. G2.

He progressed to a supremely dominant 2.75-length victory in last November’s Coolmore Stud S. G1, defeating Bellatrix Star, Growing Empire & Lady Of Camelot in 1:08.3, the fastest time in the race’s 19-year history as a Group 1 feature at Flemington. 

Switzerland and Private Life have both joined the Coolmore stallion roster, and Aeliana is already twice Group 1-placed in weight-for-age company this season, behind Horse of the Year Via Sistina and Mr Brightside. 

Bred by Arrowfield & Planette Thoroughbred, Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel-Star Pupil) was purchased for $525,000 by Hermitage Thoroughbreds. She was stakes-placed at two and then, competing in a vintage cohort of 3YO fillies, was unbeaten in 5 Group-level starts last season, including three outstanding Group 1 victories in the Flight Stakes, Surround Stakes and finally the Coolmore Classic.  

Lady Shenandoah resumed with a slashing second in the Concorde S. G3 on 6 September and is the current favourite for tomorrow evening’s $2 million Manikato S. G1 at The Valley. Arrowfield Magic Millions graduate and Moir S. G1 winner Baraqiel (Snitzel-Angel Of Mercy) is second favourite for the race.