Snake Bites on Hillside

Promising gallopers Sammy The Snake and Oncebittentwiceshy completed a winning double for Ridgeview Park sire Golden Snake at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday.

Sammy The Snake was first cab off the rank for part-owner Sharnee Rose who welcomed him back to scale after the Mypunter Hcp (2400m).  Rose was there in her role as manager for trainers Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra who are in Sydney for the Inglis Easter Sale.

Jockey Damian Thornton set a decent early speed on Sammy The Snake before backing off the pace down Sandown’s long back straight, leaving plenty in reserve for a finishing run.  “It’s such a big thrill to win a city race with him,” Rose said.  “He’s just so honest and never runs a bad race.”

Sammy The Snake (4g ex Patsetorri by El Moxie) is a favourite with the Rose family – Sharnee, Dennis and Colleen – they also bred him and the Sandown win was his second this year following a Cranbourne win in January.

The Roses race him with Craig, Sue & Blair Keating, Jill Walsh and Len & Joan Murphy.  He’s the final foal of Patsetorri (El Moxie) and is a half-brother to their Ustinov winner Topkapi.

Sandown’s midweek meeting was no April Fool’s Day for the owners of Golden Snake three year-old Oncebittentwiceshy after his milestone victory in the William Hill Hcp (1300m)

The Mark Stephenson trained three year-old was the first city winner for apprentice Brandon Stockdale and owner-breeder Sharon Money.   “It means a lot to me – I’m very grateful to Mark for putting me on,” Stockdale said.  “It’s a fantastic feeling to get a win especially with all my family here watching.”

Oncebittentwiceshy (3g ex Don’t Tell Grandma by Loup Sauvage) was coming off a Stony Creek win and he finished powerfully to score by a long-neck over Red Casino.  Money has retained his two year-old half-sister by Moorookyle Park sire Widden Valley.

Golden Snake is a four-time Group 1 classic winner by Danzig and has sired 136 individual winners world-wide at a 56% strike-rate.  There have been 10 stakes winners to date headed by G1 Railway Stakes winner Gilded Venom.

For more information about Golden Snake, contact Julie Nairn (LP Stallions) on 0402 901 910 or Phil Sloane (Ridgeview Park Stud) on 0488 525 063.

sammy the snakeSAMMY THE SNAKE