The 11th same-day, same-track Group race double of Snitzel’s exceptional stud career has put him back on top of the current Australian General Sires’ Premiership, and delivered a milestone achieved by very few stallions.
And there is surely no more appropriate race to mark the Champion Sire’s 100th individual stakeswinner than the $500,000 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint 1200m G2 on Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick.
Snitzel had only one runner in the race, but it was enough. Geoff & Mary Grimish’s home-bred Splintex, whose four previous wins were all at shorter distances, ended up in front a touch too soon, but Robbie Dolan’s coolness and the colt’s resolve were up to the task.
The Godolphin filly Flit attacked valiantly, but Splintex’s nose hit the line first, with Anaheed 1.4 lengths away third.Splintex brings up Snitzel’s century of stakeswinners and becomes the Champion Sire’s 14th stakeswinner so far this season. (PHOTO: Bradley Photos)Trainer Mark Newnham, celebrating his 8th Group success this season, said, “He’s just a really good genuine horse and I think he has been a bit underestimated.”