Snitzel – superlative sire of 2YOs
Almost a year after his death, Snitzel's influence on Australasian racing & breeding is more profound than ever. (PHOTO: Joan Faras)
Snitzel announced himself as a potential source of precocious talent with four winners from his first seven 2YO runners in 2009.
They included the fairytale filly Chance Bye, who won the Inglis Nursery at her 19 December debut and the Inglis Classic and Silver Slipper S. G2 at her next two starts.
Fourteen years and four 2YO Sires’ Premierships later, Snitzel’s record as a juvenile sire is exceptional.
An impressive 44% of all Snitzel’s named foals have raced at two and 296 (37%) of those runners have won. Fifty-seven (7.2% of his 2YO runners) are stakeswinners and 6 are Group 1 winners, including Golden Slipper stars Estijaab & Shinzo. That’s more southern hemisphere 2YO Group 1 winners than any other active stallion in Australia.
Snitzel’s consistent and classy juveniles have kept coming in 2023/24. Fourteen have won – all but two in metropolitan company – and he heads the 2YO Sires’ table with 5 stakeswinners: Group 2 winners Bittercreek & Switzerland, Group 3 winner Prost and Listed winners Highness & Lazzura. Love Poem & Unbridled Joy (in New Zealand) are Group-placed, while Lady Shenandoah has been stakes-placed in Queensland.
A further 20 stakes performers, including 7 stakeswinners headed by Doull, Serasana, Wee Nessy & Remarque, from Snitzel’s 2018, 2019 & 2020 crops complete his black type record this season. They maintain his remarkable lifetime achievement of averaging a stakes win every 20 days.
Snitzel will conclude the season with top 5 finishes on the Australian General, 2YO & 3YO Sires’ earnings premierships. He has also made his second top 10 appearance on the Broodmare Sires’ table where he has more than $19 million prizemoney and 8 stakeswinners including dual Group 1 winner Celestial Legend (by Dundeel). His daughters have left a further five stakeswinners worldwide, among them New Zealand Group 1 2YO winner Velocious.
Snitzel’s 15 stakes-siring sons include Australia’s likely Champion 2nd Season Sire Trapeze Artist whose 3 stakeswinners are headed by Caulfield Guineas winner Griff, and Thronum, sire of Hong Kong Group 1 winner Invincible Sage in 2023/24.
In the sale-ring, the 4-time Champion Sire has added six $1 million+ yearlings in 2024, and for the fifth time his total yearling sales have exceeded $40 million. In other categories, his broodmare daughter Parmalove made $730,000 for vendor Inglewood Stud and racemare Willinga Beast was sold for $675,000.
In all seasons and for every reason, Snitzel remains an elite stallion of the rarest quality.
