Snitzel Bags Trans-Tasman 2YO Stakes Double

Arrowfield Stud’s incumbent Champion Australian Stallion Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice-Snippets’ Lass, by Snippets) isn’t a three-time Champion Sire of 2YOs for nothing and proved it once again with a sensational trans-Tasman Group double on Saturday. He now boasts 42 juvenile stakes-winners among his lifetime tally of 107 stakes-winners. First-up was Te Akau Racing’s colt Sword Of State (Snitzel-In The Vanguard, by Encosta de Lago) who streeted his rivals – including the Karaka Million winner On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) – in the $100,000 Matamata Slipper 1200m G3, winning by a widening 6.5-lengths in a sizzling 1:08.78. Although nominated for the Golden Slipper, Sword Of State’s prizemoney from three wins isn’t enough to secure a start, so he will now head to the $200,000 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce S. G1 on 13 March. Less than three hours after the New Zealand race, Snitzel’s daughter Four Moves Ahead (Snitzel-Doulmera, by Mr Greeley) took charge of the $200,000 ATC Sweet Embrace S. 1200m G2 at the 300-metre mark and held out She’s All Class (Brazen Beau) and Arrowfield filly Mallory (Not A Single Doubt). Trainer John Sargent was relieved to see the striking chestnut filly take a firm step towards the Golden Slipper after a minor injury caused her to miss last weekend’s Silver Slipper. Bred & raced by Jonathan Munz (Pinecliff Racing), Four Moves Ahead and her Group 3-winning sister Emeralds (Sebring) are the first foals of the unraced Aga Khan mare Doulmera (by Mr Greeley), from the celebrated family of European Horses of the Year Daylami & Dalakhani. Doulmera was bought by Dean Hawthorne for €180,000 at the 2014 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale.

Classy performance by the @jsargentracing trained Snitzel filly Four Moves Ahead, winning the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes @atc_races with @nashhot in the saddle. Congrats to breeder/owner Jonathan Munz.@TDNAusNZ @anz_news @ArrowfieldStud @BhimaTBreds @mmsnippets @RacenetTweets pic.twitter.com/p4RWN81AsF

— Liam Prior (@prior174) February 27, 2021