Snitzel opens new season in style
Leading young sire Snitzel opened the throttle on his new season campaign with three city winners and a pair of strong black type performances today.
At Warwick Farm in Sydney, 3YO Arrowfield graduate Sweet Idea (ex Flidais by Timber Country) put up an extraordinarily brave effort to finish second in the ATC Silver Shadow S. G2, beaten a short half head in race record time by Thump (Flying Spur’s 43rd stakeswinner as a broodmare sire). Forced to make not one but three runs during the race, Sweet Idea’s courage cost her dearly: she bled from both nostrils and will miss the rest of the spring. Her owners can take comfort from her splendid record to date: two wins, including the ATC Silver Slipper S. G2 and 5 placings, including a Golden Slipper third, and $882,200 from seven starts.
Flidais has a yearling filly by Snitzel and is foaling to him again next month.
Three races later on the same card a member of Snitzel’s 2009 crop, Windswept (ex Feather Duster by End Sweep) scored narrowly over 1300 metres for owner-breeders Arrowfield and John Leaver, and trainer Gerald Ryan. A three-quarter brother to dual stakeswinner She’s Clean, Windswept missed most of 2012/13 because of a serious pelvic injury, but is now fully recovered and ready for a rewarding season.
Feather Duster has a yearling filly by Not A Single Doubt and foals again to him this spring.
In Melbourne 3YO colt Shamus Award (ex Sunset Express by Success Express) was a little unlucky at his season debut to strike the very talented Cauthen in the MVRC Mitchell McKenzie S. LR, but there was plenty of merit in his 1.5 length second – his fifth black type placing in six starts.
Snitzel’s excellent day was completed by victories in Adelaide and Perth by Hunger (ex Hollaback by Fusaichi Pegasus) & Modello (ex Sacred Model by Canonise) who have now won 10 races and more than $400,000 between them.