RUSSIAN REVOLUTION (Snitzel – Ballet d’Amour) wins the G1 Oakleigh Plate. Ridden by Mark Zahra. Photo – Bronwen Healy. The Image is Everything. Bronwen Healy and Darren Tindale Photography.

Oakleigh Plate quinella for Snitzel

Twelve years ago Snitzel defeated Virage de Fortune and Takeover Target with a bravura display of classic Australian speed in the MRC Oakleigh Plate 1100m G1.

On Saturday his son Russian Revolution and daughter Snitty Kitty, from the same 2013 crop, turned in an equally impressive performance to quinella the 2018 running of the great Caulfield sprint, first held in 1884, and now worth $500,000. Hellbent, Booker & Bons Away rounded out a heart-stopping finish, with a length covering the quintet.

Watch Russian Revolution & Snitty Kitty win the MRC Oakleigh Plate G1.

It’s the Champion Sire’s second Group 1 quinella, after Russian Revolution beat Redzel home in last year’s ATC The Galaxy G1. (Two weeks later his then-2YO sons Invader, Summer Passage & Trapeze Artist filled the Inglis Sires’ G1 trifecta.)

Russian Revolution was bred by John Stuart Investments and bought for $320,000 by China Horse Club & Michael Wallace from the Vinery Stud draft at the Inglis Easter Sale. His dam Ballet D’Amour (by Stravinsky), now owned by Belinda Bateman, has a 2YO filly Galina (by Smart Missile), a yearling colt by Wandjina and is in foal to Redoute’s Choice, while her Group-winning daughter Turbo Miss is in foal to Not A Single Doubt.

The Oakleigh Plate 1-2, plus quality placings by Arrowfield graduates Showtime (3rd, MRC Futurity S. G1) and Estijaab (2nd, ATC Silver Slipper S. G2) takes Snitzel well past $17 million prizemoney for the season – a mark never seen before in Australia.

Russian Revolution is Snitzel’s third Group 1 winner in 2017/18 after Trapeze Artist (ATC Golden Rose S. G1) and Redzel (VRC Darley Classic G1). Like Redzel, Invader and BTC Cup G1 winner Hot Snitzel, he is prepared by Peter & Paul Snowden.

Snitzel has eight colts on offer at next week’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, while April’s Inglis Easter catalogue features 64 yearlings by Snitzel, including 8 fillies and two colts in Arrowfield’s draft.