Detective delivers for Snitzel

Snitzel’s high-powered start to the season continued on Saturday when Detective proved too strong in the LR Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington.

Jumping brilliantly from an outside gate for Chris Parnham, he settled second behind the early leader Zunbaqa before pouncing on the filly and holding off the closers by three-quarters of a length.

Detective is a good example of a colt that has benefited from careful development as a juvenile.  He was runner-up in 4 of his 5 starts including seconds to Capitalist (LR ATC Breeders’ Plate) and Seaburge (G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes).

His progress was evident in his 3yo debut win at Wyong last month and with a Flemington stakes win behind him, the path to the G1 Caulfield Guineas looks rather more certain.

Detective was bred by Arrowfield, Alan Jones & John Leaver – the partnership responsible for last year’s G1 Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me – and he was offered by Arrowfield at the 2015 Gold Coast Magic Millions where James Harron bought him for $220,000.

Detective is Snitzel’s 42nd stakes winner.  He is trained by Peter & Paul Snowden for Belinda Bateman, Newgate Farm, Matthew Sandblom, Fergus & Delia Doyle, John & Fran Ingham, Donna & Rob Love, Gary Diamond, Danny & Pauline Saab and APB International.

Detective is the third winner, after Bourne Supremacy and Secret Doubt, out of G1 Railway Stakes winner Covertly (Metal Storm).  She has since delivered two full brothers to Detective, the first a $170,000 buy for Paul Perry at the 2016 Magic Millions and the second a just-turned yearling.

Covertly is due to foal this month to Champion European sprinter-miler Olympic Glory.

Snitzel has notched 5 Australian stakes winners since August 1: 3YO colts Detective, Russian Revolution & Thronum, and 4YOs Redzel & Sooboog.

The son of Redoute’s Choice retains his early lead on the Australian sires’ table with $1.20 million and he also heads the list by winners (31) as well as stakes winners.