Group race double for Snitzel at Caulfield
Co-trainer Natalie Young (right) greets Snitzel's 97th stakeswinner Letzbeglam after the Blue Diamond Prelude G2. (PHOTO: Darren Tindale)
A sharp juvenile and a smart mare gave reigning Champion Sire Snitzel an outstanding day at Caulfield and took his season tally of stakeswinners to 11.
Snitzel’s hot run of summer 2YO stakes wins continued when Jo Lindsay’s filly Letzbeglam overcame a testing run to land the $200,000 MRC Blue Diamond Prelude 1100m G2, ahead of Muntaseera and Geist.
With only a debut success at Werribee on her record, Letzbeglam surprised not only punters, but also her trainers Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, and jockey Brett Prebble with a clearcut 2.25-length victory, despite sitting three wide for much of the race.
It’s a blowout – the $33 shot Letzbeglam takes out the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies). @MelbRacingClub @busuttin @blprebble pic.twitter.com/L7huCcu8pi
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 8, 2020
Brett Prebble gave Letzbeglam a glowing reference. “I thought it would be another stepping-stone in a learning curve for her today, but she’s come out, raised the bar and shown just how good she is.
“Whatever she’s doing now, she’s just learning, but she’s got plenty of presence about her, lovely scope and she’s going to get over further.”
Bred by Phoenix Thoroughbred (II) Ltd, Letzbeglam is the third foal of US-bred mare Miss Charming (by Storm Cat’s son Forestry), a winning half-sister of dual Grade 1 winner Tout Charmant.
Miss Charming was purchased at the 2014 Keeneland November Sale for $US180,000 by Blue Sky Bloodstock, and Letzbeglam was a $280,000 buy for Cambridge Stud from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.
Rob & Pam Crosby’s 4YO home-bred mare Sylvia’s Mother completed Snitzel’s Group double when she prevailed in a tight battle with News Girl for the final prize at Caulfield, the $160,000 Geoffrey Belmaine S. 1200m G3.
Sylvia’s Mother pips News Girl at the post with a sensational drive. @MelbRacingClub @HawkesRacing pic.twitter.com/agec6Uudar
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 8, 2020
Sylvia’s Mother is out of Found The One (by Bel Esprit), a city-winning full sister to Bel Mer (4 wins inc. SAJC Robert Sangster S. G1) bought by the Crosbys after seeing Bel Esprit’s champion daughter Black Caviar win at Randwick in 2013.
Trained by the Hawkes Racing team, Sylvia’s Mother has now won six of her 10 starts and more than $350,000 prizemoney, making herself a valuable future asset for the Crosbys’ private breeding operation at Tamworth.
Wayne Hawkes noted the quality of the mare’s performance in blustery conditions.
“It was a good effort when you see how windy it is now. In the mounting yard before the race, we were literally being blown away and being four back on the fence was probably not the place to be.
“She certainly did it the hard way and she is a good mare going somewhere.”
That “somewhere” may be next month’s $1.25 million VRC Newmarket Handicap G1, also a possible target for Arrowfield’s major winner on Saturday, Inglis Easter graduate Alabama Express (by Redoute’s Choice) triumphant in the C.F. Orr S. G1.
Snitzel’s career tally is now only two stakeswinners short of a century and in just over two months he has risen from 12th to 2nd spot on the 2019/20 General Sires’ Premiership, with $9,073,469 prizemoney and 11 winners of 15 Group & Listed Races.
