Lofty Arch all-the-way in Listed Gothic Stakes

Paul Lofitis’ Lofty Thoroughbreds has already achieved great success with a son of Snitzel in the bold form of sprinter Lofty Strike, a dual Group winner, twice Group 1-placed and now standing at Swettenham Stud. 

He now has another super-talented Snitzel colt who might be even better, judging by his all-the-way maiden stakes win in Saturday’s $175,000 MRC Gothic S. 1200m LR at Caulfield.

That makes Lofty Arch SW No. 149 for his 4-time Champion Sire, and the Gothic Stakes is the 6th stakes win on Snitzel’s record in the first 80 days of the 2024/25 season.

Lofty Arch is also the first stakeswinner for young Cranbourne trainer Alex Rae who noted that the Coolmore Stud S. G1 is in a fortnight, but said, “We’ll just continue to put the horse first…with an exciting colt like this we’ll monitor him for the next 48 hours and do what’s best for him.”

What a great result for @AlexRaeRacing to train a winner on Caulfield Cup Day 👏

Lofty Arch wins again at start number 3 & he has plenty of upside! 📈@Brown_ethan8 pic.twitter.com/y3KVe3W5Nv

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 19, 2024

Jockey Ethan Brown confirmed the quality of Lofty Arch’s performance at only his third start, following his winning debut at Cranbourne on 19 September and a good 5th in the Danehill S. G2. 

“I had confidence the whole race…he broke well, he’s got a high cruising speed and used that to his ability. He just pricked his ears out in front…he really relaxed well underneath me and quickened up well.” 

Bred by Woodpark Stud, Lofty Arch is from the two-time French Group winner Soneva (by Cherokee Run) whose family has already posted significant results with Arrowfield stallions.

Soneva’s dam is a half-sister to the dam of New Zealand Thousand Guineas G1 winner King’s Rose & Group 2 winner Hardham (both by Redoute’s Choice), and Lofty Arch’s Group-placed half-sister See You Soon is the dam of Flight S. G1 runner-up Snow In May (by The Autumn Sun). Other Australasian performers from this family include Champion NZ 2YO Anabandana and Listed winners Roanoke, Anavinci, Gybe & Crosswinds.

Lofty Arch was offered as Lot 372 by Twin Hills Stud at Inglis Easter 2023 and purchased for $200,000 by the Lofty Thoroughbreds Group. 

Snitzel’s other 38 yearlings sent through the Inglis Easter Sale-ring that year include G1 winner Lady Shenandoah, dual Group 2 winner Switzerland, Listed winner Gatsby’s and Group-placed Declichy Boulevard, Love Poem & Wanaruah. 

In fact, 12 of the 24 stakes performers that have so far emerged from that Sale are by Arrowfield stallions.