Snitzel wages War at Doomben

Time For War was the aptly named deliverer of Snitzel’s latest blow in the battle for the Australian Sires’ championship, when he led throughout to win Saturday’s $250,000 BRC Sires’ Produce S. G2.

It was the second Group victory for the 2YO colt, who won the ATC Pago Pago S. G2 at his second start in March. He has now returned almost $400,000 on the $56,000 that Darby Racing paid Arrowfield for him at last year’s Inglis Scone Yearling Sale.

Time For War is one of five Snitzel Group winners trained by Gerald Ryan (alongside Snitzerland, Hot Snitzel, Flying Snitzel and Dances On Stars), and among 13 Australian stakeswinners by Snitzel in 2013/14.

Bred by the partnership of Arrowfield and leading South African farm Klawervlei Stud, Time For War is the third foal of Lady Zabelia (by Zabeel), a winner in South Africa whose relatives include two-time Australian Horse of the Year Might And Power, and Group 1 winners Mosheen and Lucky Owners. Lady Zabelia has a weanling filly by Smart Missile and is in foal to Animal Kingdom.

The contest for the 2014 Australian General Sires’ title is shaping up for a rare father-and-son showdown as Snitzel chases his champion sire and fellow Arrowfield resident Redoute’s Choice.

Less than an hour after Time For War’s Doomben win, Redoute’s Choice weighed in with his 115th career stakeswinner La Amistad, successful in the $100,000 ATC W.J. McKell Cup LR.

Snitzel was also represented on Saturday by 3YO Le Val (3rd, BRC Queensland Day P. LR) and new 3YO city winner Off The Rails, successful over 2000 metres at Randwick.

By the end of the day Snitzel had closed the gap on the Sires’ list by about $170,000, but Redoute’s Choice remains in charge with prizemoney of $9,600,308, ahead of Snitzel on $9,139,595.

Time For War and Off The Rails may now be given further opportunities to boost Snitzel’s total in the J.J. Atkins G1 and Queensland Derby G1, both worth $500,000 and both run at Eagle Farm on 7 June.