Champion Sire Snitzel is enjoying one of his best-ever seasons on the track & in the sale-ring. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

No strolling for Snitzel

There is an accidental irony in the name of Snitzel’s 122nd stakeswinner Stroll, victorious in the $150,000 BRC Bill Carter S. 1200m LR on Oaks Day at Eagle Farm.

Because the Champion Sire continues to build his extraordinary record at anything but strolling pace. 

His progeny’s 27 stakes wins so far in 2021/22 make this the third most successful season of his career, and it’s the fifth season his Australian earnings have exceeded $16 million.

A strong effort from Stroll who gets the better of the opposition with a superb turn of foot. @odearacing @BrisRacingClub @ProvenTbreds pic.twitter.com/zKuNNyOxzW

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 4, 2022

Snitzel has bettered his season tally of three Group 1 winners – In The Congo, Wild Ruler & Yearning – only twice, in 2016/17 and 2017/18. 

His four 2YO stakeswinners (the colts Best Of Bordeaux, Lofty Strike & Williamsburg, and the filly Stroll) head a lively crop poised to give him a great start to 2022/23.

And what’s coming after them has already received a clear thumbs-up from Australia’s most astute buyers and leading stables: 79 rising 2YOs sold for a total of $41.6 million.

Breeders have likewise voted with their wallets, sending Snitzel two superb books totalling 315 mares in 2020 and 2021. Returned this year to his peak fee of $220,000 inc. GST, he can look forward to seeing a full book of top-drawer mares this coming Spring.

With 7 titles as Champion Sire & Champion Sire of 2YOs already secured, Snitzel’s influence continues to grow in all directions. His sons Shamus Award & Russian Revolution are new stars among Australia’s next-generation sires, and his daughters have produced 10 stakeswinners this season. 

As for Stroll – she is the first foal of Walk The Streets (by Street Cry) and was a $450,000 Magic Millions purchase by Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds,  bought from the same Baramul Stud draft as Best Of Bordeaux.

Trained by Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted, Stroll will now head to the Tattersall’s Life Member S. LR at Eagle Farm on 25 June.  Stroll’s major target next season is likely to be the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, won in 2014 by another rather good Snitzel filly, Sweet Idea.