Snitzel rockets into 2026
Snitzel has averaged more than three stakes wins every month of 2025/26, netting six in each of March & April. (PHOTO: Joan Faras)
Champion Sire Snitzel tied the bow on his brilliant first month of 2026 with his 63rd 2YO stakeswinner Liguria, winner of Saturday’s NZ$120,000 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic 1200m G3 at only her second appearance for owner-breeders Sir Brendan & Lady Lindsay of Cambridge Stud.
She is also number 166 on Snitzel’s full list of stakeswinners – and his 10th in the first 6 months of this ANZ season, in a group evenly split between the sexes and headed by Group 1 winners Baraqiel (A.J. Moir S.) and Transatlantic (Toorak H.)
In the Colin Jillings Classic for 2YOs, it’s a win to Liguria at @Ellerslie_Races.
Grabs it within a stride of the post
Ridden by Warren Kennedy. Trained by Lance Noble. Owned and bred by @CambridgeStud.
4th on Boxing Day. Wins today.
On Trackside 1 & https://t.co/SqKEqjyg7L pic.twitter.com/apI0FNCSvu— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) January 31, 2026
Trainer Lance Noble said, “She is not very big, but is supremely athletic and has that will to win.
“She does have a great attitude, a real sweetie, and is very popular around the stable. We came here with a little bit of confidence after her first-up run and she is only going to get better.”
Fourth on her 26 December debut to the exciting Arrowfield graduate filly Te Encuentro, Liguria now heads to the Matamata Breeders’ S. G2 for 2YO fillies on 14 February. That race was won in 2020 by her dam Vernazza for the same owners-breeders-trainer combination.
Vernazza, by More Than Ready from Melbourne Group winner Zonza, is a half-sister to Pinarello (Queensland Derby G1) and 2YO Listed winner Bavella (by Snitzel).
Liguria is the 5th stakeswinner from 42 runners bred on the Snitzel/More Than Ready cross, after Champion 2YO Shinzo and Group winners Wee Nessy, Exhilarates & Scallopini.
Six million-dollar yearlings, the No. 1 spot on both the Magic Millions Sires table and the Australian General Sires’ Premiership, a NZ$850,000 colt at Karaka and 19 January winners including Liguria, Sydney stakeswinner Sandpaper and $1 million Subzero winner Snitzanova have given Snitzel a rocketing start to 2026. And slowing down has never been in his playbook!
Snitzel has 4 colts at Inglis Classic offered by Arrowfield & Glenlogan Park, two Inglis Premier colts from Crossley Thoroughbreds & Newgate Farm and a stunning collection of 43 yearlings at Inglis Easter offered by 15 vendors.
