Vulpine pounces in Ortensia Stakes
One of Champion Sire Snitzel's 17 stakeswinners this season, Vulpine sweeps to victory in the Ortensia S. LR at Scone. (PHOTO: Steve Hart/Sportpix)
Team Snitzel has averaged a stakes win every 11 days so far this season
and his daughter Vulpine maintained that exceptional success rate with her third stakes victory at Scone on Saturday.
The 5YO mare made it a thrilling watch, accelerating sharply from the rear of the field to pounce on Mr Mosaic & Ranges and win the $140,000 Ortensia S. 1100m LR.
Vulpine launches late to grab victory at Scone for @BWiddupRacing! 💪 pic.twitter.com/UJXYksb4tH
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 14, 2022
Usually an on-pace runner, Vulpine revealed a versatility that impressed her jockey Jay Ford.
“What she is, she’s got speed, she is explosive, so I thought if I can just conserve as much (energy) as I can…I thought that would give her the best chance to run as well as she could.
“She showed she is very adaptable and it’s a terrific sign for the start of her preparation to come here and win.”
Bred by Fergus Doyle from Elusive Leone, an Elusive Quality half-sister to dual Group 1 winner and sire Star Witness, Vulpine is a Magic Millions graduate, bought by agent Andrew Williams & owner Brad Hunt’s BK Racing for $340,000 from the Willow Park draft.
Trained by Brad Widdup, she has earned more than half of her $606,000 prizemoney this season, from two Listed wins and an excellent second, behind subsequent Group 1 winner Snapdancer, in January’s $1 million Magic Millions Fillies & Mares.
As for Snitzel, his season record of 26 stakes wins – 20 at Group level – is his best tally since 2017/18. They include three Group 1 victories by Wild Ruler (A.J. Moir S.), In The Congo (Golden Rose) & Yearning (Thousand Guineas), and four Group wins by a trio of exciting 2YO colts: Best Of Bordeaux, Lofty Strike and Williamsburg.
Sale-ring outcomes for breeders and vendors have matched those spectacular on-track results. The Champion Sire’s 2022 yearlings have grossed more than $41 million for the fourth time in his stellar career, and their $542,000 average price is a career-high figure for Snitzel.
