Snitzel closes on stakeswinners record
French Emotion (Snitzel) ridden by Ben Melham (yellow& black cap) strides up on the outside of the field to win in a tight finish in the Queen of the South Stakes (G2) over 1600m at Morphettville Racecourse. 5 May 2018. Photo credit Darren Tindale / The Image is Everything.
Already more than $10 million past the Australian season prizemoney record, Snitzel has all but made the individual stakeswinners record his own as well.
His 26th Australian black type winner for the season arrived at Morphettville on Saturday when 6YO mare French Emotion snatched a last-stride victory in the $250,000 SAJC Queen of the South S. 1600m G2.
Watch French Emotion win the SAJC Queen of the South S. G2.
It was French Emotion’s first return to the stakeswinner’s circle since her VRC Blazer S. G2 success in October 2016, but she has held her own in quality female company, including a Myer Classic G1 second and successive wins in the rich VOBIS Gold Distaff at Caulfield.
Her overall consistency is evident in the eight wins and 11 placings she has compiled in 33 starts, rewarding her trainer Chris Waller and owner-breeders Valda Klaric & Ivan Cajkusic with almost $900,000 prizemoney.
French Emotion is the best of four winners out of the Woodman mare Love and Emotion, a daughter of AJC Oaks G1 winner My Brilliant Star, also the dam of Shot of Thunder (MRC Toorak H. G1). This is the family of Queensland Derby G1 winner Lachlan River and dual Group 1-winning sprinter Sudurka.
Earlier on the Morphettville Oaks Day programme, Snitzel’s 4YO daughter Sprightly Lass (ex Ultimate Fever by Gold Fever) won the $175,000 SAJC DC McKay S. 1100m G3 for the Hawkes stable and a group of owners headed by the mare’s co- breeder Luskin Park Stud.
Watch Sprightly Lass win the SAJC DC McKay S. G3.
It was the mare’s fifth win from 7 starts this season and came a fortnight after her maiden stakes victory in the MRC Bel Esprit S. LR.
Sprightly Lass and French Emotion completed the 14th same-day, same-track stakes double of Snitzel’s career, and his first at Morphettville. This season alone Snitzel has posted eight same-day stakes doubles, and three stakes trebles comprising victories in Sydney (12 stakes), Melbourne (10), Adelaide (2) and New Zealand (1).
The combination of Snitzel with mares by sons and grandsons of Mr. Prospector has now produced 19 stakeswinners from 125 runners, including Group 1 winner Sweet Idea and this season’s Group 1-placed Group winners Showtime and Thronum.
One more individual stakeswinner this season will give Snitzel sole ownership of the all-time Australian record he currently shares with Danehill.
