Seven years after Snitzel won the Challenge Stakes (1000m), his sensational daughter Snitzerland went one better by setting a new track record of 56.16 seconds in the latest edition at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
With his oldest gallopers only five year-olds, Snitzel has sired 7 stakes winners so far this season and four of them – Sweet Idea, Flying Snitzel, Petrol Power and Snitzerland – have been successful since the beginning of March.
Arrowfield-bred Snitzerland produced a superlative performance at her first start since November. She began well for jockey Corey Brown but raced off the lead set by comeback sprinter Hay List until about 300 metres from home.
When Brown released the brakes, Snitzerland accelerated in championship style to win by more than two lengths from Decision Time, Howmuchdoyouloveme and Hay List.
“She’s a little ripper,” trainer Gerald Ryan said. “I was surprised when Hay List led her but I knew fitness was never going to beat her.”
Snitzerland has now won 7 of her 12 starts, including five Group races, and $1.40 million prizemoney for her owners Neil Werrett and Steve McCann. Her next goal is the G1 Galaxy at Rosehill in a fortnight.
She heads the list of 11 current season stakes winners sold by Arrowfield Stud or its sister farm Bellerive. The other 10 stakes-winning graduates are: Sweet Idea, Flying Snitzel, Lunar Rise, Direct Charge, Startsmeup, Assail, Crack A Roadie, Members Joy, She’s Clean and Urban Groove.
Snitzerland’s dam Monte Rosa (Fraar) is an unraced sister to Group 3 winner Nina Haraks and she foaled a brother to Snitzerland last spring. Arrowfield will present four yearlings by Snitzel at next month’s Inglis Easter Sale.