Snitzel takes the early lead

Much like his progeny on the track, Snitzel has shot to an early lead on the 2016/17 Australian General Sires’ table, with 22 winners and more than $870,000 prizemoney.

Four of those winners have been in Group & Listed stakes races on three of the first four weekends of the new season:

3YO colt THRONUM (ex Helena’s Secret by Five Star Day)
ATC The Rosebud H. LR – 6 August
Bred by Highgrove Stud, RMA Bloodstock & Widden Stud
Sold Inglis Easter, $300,000, Highgrove Stud/Sun Bloodstock
Trained by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott for Sun Bloodstock & Sun Stud

4YO colt SOOBOOG (ex Monte Rosa by Fraar)
VRC Aurie’s Star H. G3 – 6 August
Bred by Arrowfield Stud
Sold Inglis Easter, $1.5 million, Arrowfield/Sheikh Mohammed bon Khalifa al Maktoum
Trained by Darren Weir for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum

3YO colt RUSSIAN REVOLUTION (ex Ballet d’Amour by Stravinsky)
VRC Vain S. G3 – 13 August
Bred by John Stuart Investments
Sold Inglis Easter, $320,000, Vinery/China Horse Club
Trained by Peter & Paul Snowden for Newgate, China Horse Club, John Stuart Investments & D.W. Wallace

4YO gelding REDZEL (ex Millrich by Rubiton)
MRC Heath S. G3 – 27 August
Bred by Lee Fleming
Sold Magic Millions, $120,000, Marquee Stud/Triple Crown Syndications
Trained by Peter & Paul Snowden for Triple Crown Syndications & partners

These headline acts have been supported by the Group-placed 3YO fillies Athena Lass & Elle Lou, and the durable gelding Checkpoint, who added a Listed placing to the five wins and five Group placings he’s notched up over six seasons in Perth.

This is easily the fastest season start of Snitzel’s career. With more than half of his 185-strong 2013 crop yet to race, as well as 175 just-turned 2YOs conceived on a $45,000 fee, it’s a fair bet he’s only warming up.