Generation is one of 9 stakeswinners from Snitzel’s 2018 crop and his Manfred S. G3 victory is the 15th stakes win on the Champion Sire’s record this season. (PHOTO: Joan Faras)

Snitzel’s excellent Generation wins again

Snitzel’s 2018 crop is shaping up as one of his best, with three Group 1 winners already on the board – second only to the 2014 crop that produced Trapeze Artist, Invader, I Am Excited and Summer Passage. 

The Maher & Eustace-trained colt Generation may soon have a chance to level the score after a stylish campaign-opening victory in Saturday’s $200,000 MRC Manfred S. 1200 G3.

Recording his second stakes victory, @cmaherracing’s Generation (Snitzel) was all class in the Gr3 Manfred Stakes @MelbRacingClub, joining his speedy dam Fontiton as a group winner at the track.@NewgateFarm @mmsnippets @FARRINGTON_D @Sunline129 @ArrowfieldStud @JyeMcNeil pic.twitter.com/uLUJMG85Cs

— Breedingracing.com (@BreedingRacing) February 5, 2022

David Eustace praised both the colt and his jockey Jye O’Neill, who rode five winners on the card, including both Group 3 features. 

“[Jye] got it spot on, he let him just travel deep into the straight and then when he asked him to quicken, he quickened well….it was a nice watch.”

Generation’s next start is likely to be the Zeditave S. G3 on 26 February, with Group 1 races the Newmarket Handicap on 12 March and the William Reid Stakes on 25 March also on the table. 

Bred by S. F. Bloodstock, Generation was bought for $575,000 by Ciaron Maher and agent Dermot Farrington from Newgate Farm’s 2020 Magic Millions draft and he races for a group of owners including Colin & Janice McKenna’s Halo Racing, Ray & Susie Montague, Yulong Investments & Canning Downs Stud. He has now won four of his six starts, among them the Red Anchor S. G3 last October, $370,000 prizemoney and the cachet of a prospective stallion.

Generation is the second Group performer from only two foals left by the classy 2YO Group winner and Blue Diamond G1 fifth Fontiton (by Turffontein from the Storm Cat sire-line) before her premature death in January 2019.

Snitzel’s 12 other stakeswinners this season include 3YOs In The Congo & Yearning (both Group 1 winners), Group winners Four Moves Ahead, Bruckner & Sword Of State and Listed winners Bend The Knee & Mr Mozart.

The four-time Champion Sire has 38 yearlings catalogued for upcoming yearling sales: 10 at Inglis Melbourne Premier, two at NZB Karaka Book 1 and 26 at Inglis Easter.