Group 1 quinella for Redoute’s Choice & Snitzel

Redoute’s Choice and his son Snitzel have matched their one-two finish on last season’s Australian Sires’ Premiership with a Group 1 quinella on Derby Day at Flemington.

Robert & Deborah Anderson’s home-bred mare Bonaria stormed to victory in the $500,000 VRC Myer Classic 1600m G1, winning by a length from the endlessly courageous Sweet Idea, who finished a half-head in front of an equally game Catkins.

Bonaria, by Redoute’s Choice from Decidity (by Last Tycoon), has won in each of her five seasons of racing from the Pat Hyland stable to compile a record of eight wins, nine placings and prizemoney of $907,569. Her performance has improved each season, from juvenile success at two and two city wins at three, to her first Group win as a 4YO and dual Group 3 success last season.

Bonaria’s jockey Michael Rodd said, “She was great. The race panned out for us and she really deserved that win.”

For Sweet Idea (Snitzel-Flidais by Timber Country) it was the fourth Group 1 placing in an outstanding 18-start career that has returned $2.1 million on the $240,000 that Gai Waterhouse & James Harron Bloodstock paid Arrowfield for her at the 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. She has won at Group 2 level in each of her three racing seasons, including the ATC Missile Stakes and MRC Tristarc Stakes this Spring.

Jockey Tommy Berry was full of admiration for the 4YO mare’s effort in the race registered as the Empire Rose Stakes. “She gives you her all. She looked beaten at the top of the straight and then was in front again at the 100. That shows how honest and tough she is.”

Another Arrowfield graduate, the brilliant South African filly Majmu (ex Spontaneous by Hussonet) completed a Group race double for Redoute’s Choice when she won the Turffontein Starling S. 1400m G3.

Bonaria is the 26th Group 1 winner by Redoute’s Choice and his third this season, after champion sprinter Lankan Rupee (MVRC Manikato S. G1) and 3YO colt Hampton Court (ATC Spring Champion S. G1).

Bonaria is also Redoute’s Choice’s second winner of the Myer Classic (registered as the Empire Rose Stakes), after his first-crop daughter Lotteria, who won the race in 2005.

With six Australian stakeswinners, $3.4 million prizemoney and three sons (Stratum, Snitzel and Not A Single Doubt) among the top 25 sires, Redoute’s Choice is already odds-on to play a major role in the race for the 2014/15 Sires’ Premiership.