News

Snitzerland Stamped As The Top Sprinting Filly

8th Sep 2012

Snitzerland ($125,000 2011 Premier, 3f Snitzel-Monte Rosa) confirmed her position as the top three-year-old sprinting filly in Australia with a gutsy victory against the males in the Group 2 VRC Danehill Stakes at Flemington.

The daughter of Snitzel looked to be in trouble with a wall of big strong colts in front of her halfway through today’s 1200m journey, but jockey Damien Oliver pulled the speedster to the inside and Snitzerland outgunned the previously undefeated Stralia in the run to the line.

“She’s got the job done and that’s what we came to do,” trainer Gerald Ryan said after the win.

“She can run great sectionals, and will now go back to fillies grade in the Champagne in three weeks, then maybe the Blue Sapphire on the way to the Coolmore, which has always been the main aim,” Ryan added.

Bred by Arrowfield Stud and sold from Bellerive Stud’s draft at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $125,000, Snitzerland (pictured) has earned over $1million in career prizemoney under the ownership of Steve McCann and Neil Werrett.

The Danehill was Snitzerland’s fourth career victory, just as it was for fellow Inglis sold and Neil Werrett part-owned star sprinter Black Caviar back in 2009.

Named after breed shaping Champion Sire Danehill, the honour roll of today’s Group 2 sprint for three-year-olds also includes champions Fastnet Rock and Sepoy.

The other 1200m sprint down the Flemington straight was also taken out by a galloper with links to Black Caviar, with We’re Gonna Rock winning the Group 3 VRC Bobbie Lewis Quality against the older horses.

We’re Gonna Rock ($180,000 2008 Easter, 6g Fastnet Rock-Harrow) finished second to Black Caviar at his last start in May’s Group 1 The Goodwood at Morphettville.

The big strong son of Fastnet Rock had been gelded since the Goodwood and stripping lighter he was able to dash home over the top of Spirit Of Boom and Title to claim today’s first prize.

“There’s a lot of improvement in him from today and there ain’t no Black Caviar’s through the spring, so who knows,” trainer Mark Kavanagh said.

“There’s a race for everyone over the spring you’ve just got to space them and put them in the right ones,” said Kavanagh.

Bred by NJ Harrow, We’re Gonna Rock was purchased by Kavanagh for $180,000 from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

The six-year-old has now won over $450,000 for his connections thanks to five wins and two placings from 15 starts.

Earlier at Flemington Fawkner ($70,000 2009 Premier, 5g Reset-Dane Beltar) produced an impressive first up display to burst away to a four length win in the Listed VRC The Sofitel over 1400m in a slick 1:22.80.

It was the five-year-old’s powerful burst unleashed at the 250m mark that enabled the Team Williams galloper to notch up his sixth victory at start number 12, taking his earnings to $276,000.

Bred by S Bennetts, Fawkner is by Reset, which was raced by Team Williams to two Group 1 wins, from Group 3 winner Dane Beltar, making today’s winner a half-brother to fellow exciting Team Williams galloper Tanby.

Fawkner was picked up as a yearling for $70,000 from Mill Park’s draft at the 2009 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.