Snitzanova wins G2 Sandown Guineas

Arrowfield Magic Millions graduates Snitzanova & Bittercreek, both by champion sire Snitzel, closed out the Stud’s exuberant Spring with a spirited battle for Saturday’s $300,000 MRC Sandown Guineas 1600m G2 at Caulfield. 

Both horses raced wide, Snitzanova without cover for most of the journey, and Bittercreek, already a two-time Group winner, tracked her until the turn when the pair levelled up to fight out the final 350 metres. The colt momentarily seemed to have the edge, but Snitzanova would not be denied and found enough under pressure to prevail by 0.4 length, with Somewhere third. 

Snitzel is quite simply excelling himself – he’s averaging one stakes win every 9 days, with 14 black type successes by 11 different horses since 1 August, including New Zealand 2YO Return To Conquer. His Australian season total of 10 stakeswinners from 185 runners has him well clear of Zoustar, Written Tycoon & I Am Invincible (each with 6 SW from more than 220 runners).

Arrowfield yearling sale graduates have almost matched that tally, notching up 12 Group race wins by 9 horses so far this season, including Group 1 winners Lady Shenandoah & Switzerland (both by Snitzel) and Private Life (by Written Tycoon). That figure doesn’t include the successes of home-bred filly Isthmus, farm graduate Recommendation (like Snitzanova, bred by Pacific King) and Ostraka ($1 million Silver Eagle).

Snitzanova digs deep for her third straight win in the Sandown Guineas 😤@cmaherracing @DanielStack33 pic.twitter.com/Jqki6FTSLt

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 30, 2024

Snitzanova’s jockey Daniel Stackhouse said, “When Ben Allen [on Bittercreek] went round me, she really grabbed the bridle and was in for the fight, she was beaten multiple times up the straight and she just fought hard and then ran away, so she’s got a big, bright future.”

Trainer Ciaron Maher added, “That bit of grit and tenacity is what you hope to have… harnessing that and pointing her in the right direction is the key to ensuring they fulfil their potential…She hasn’t got the biggest action, and she’s not the biggest horse, but she’s got a lot of grit and determination.”

Snitzanova has made dazzling progress in her very first campaign, beginning with a debut 5th at Rosehill on 2 October, followed by a Super Maiden victory at Randwick on 30 October. Her Newcastle Spring S. G3 win on 16 November and her Group 2 victory have significantly enhanced her value and taken her earnings to $384,000. That’s a healthy return on the $200,000 Bennett Racing paid to purchase her from Arrowfield at Magic Millions 2023. Bennett Racing owners have also enjoyed Spring success with another Arrrowfield Magic Millions graduate, Baraqiel (Ian McEwen S. G2). 

Arrowfield’s current stallions, plus the Arrowfield-conceived crop of Written Tycoon, claim 14 of the 37 stakes-winning graduates (and 3 of the 4 Group 1 winners) so far recorded by the Magic Millions 2023 Sale.

Snitzanova is the penultimate foal of Pacific King’s superbly bred mare Albanilla (by Galileo), from the deep European family of Champions Alborada, Alipinista, Albanova, Eldar Elbarov and many other notable performers. Albanilla’s final foal Hiatus, also by Snitzel and also sold at Magic Millions, won her 2YO debut for Tony & Calvin McEvoy on 12 October. 

Check out Arrowfield’s 2025 Magic Millions draft here.