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Zerelle and Holstein chalk up first victories
Arrowfield Stud-based Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) sired two juvenile winners on Wednesday, courtesy of Zerelle's (2 c Snitzel - Margaery Tyrell by Street Cry) victory over 1300 metres at Sandown-Hillside, while Holstein (2 g Snitzel - Affairoftheheart by Fusaichi Pegasus) got off the mark over 1200 metres at Warwick Farm.
Having finished third on debut at Sale earlier this month, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Zerelle held on to beat Three Kings (Sebring) by a nose, while the pair pulled well clear of the third-placed Gabster (Star Witness), who finished four lengths further back in third.
Young said they had always thought a lot of the colt, who could now shoot for stakes success in the ANZAC Day Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Flemington on April 25.
"He has shown plenty at home and early on we thought he might make a Blue Diamond. But he had a growth period at the wrong time," Young said.
"So, we had to put him out for about ten weeks. I think we did the right thing as he has come back bigger and better. He is still very green, very raw. He got to the front a little too soon, and he wanted to look around, so he may have a bit of head-gear next start.
"He is a Snitzel and we bought him last year just before the Easter Yearling Sale.
"He has always been very competitive at home. He pricked his ears, and his legs were going everywhere, but I think he is going to be a really, really nice three-year-old.
"We will see how he pulls up and see where he goes next. It might be the Anzac Stakes in three weeks."
Bred by Arrowfield and Planette Thoroughbred, the son of Snitzel is the first living foal out of unraced Street Cry (Machiavellian) mare Margaery Tyrell, who is a daughter of Listed winner True Blonde (Naturalism).
True Blonde is herself the dam of Listed winner Regrowth (Unbridled's Song), who produced Group 3 winner Colour (More Than Ready), while she is the grandam of multiple Group 1 winner Forensics (Flying Spur) and Group 2 scorer Derryn (Hinchinbrook).
Further back the colt hails from the same family as Listed winner and successful stallion Not A Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice).
Arrowfield Stud will offer a colt by Snitzel out of Margaery Tyrell as Lot 413 at the Easter Yearling Sale and after missing to The Autumn Sun (Redoute's Choice) she was covered by Snitzel's barnmate Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) in November.
Meanwhile, the Matthew Dunn-trained Holstein - who is half-brother to this year's New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock) - produced a tenacious display on debut in the Yarraman Easter Yearling Maiden (1200m) at Warwick Farm to beat Chill (Vancouver) by a head. Police (Tivaci) was another length and a quarter further back in third.
"Today was a big ask," Stable Representative Keira Dunn said.
"He had barrier 11 and they definitely went quite quick. The whole way up the straight, every stride – he just kept on finding.
"It has taken us a while. He has had the few trials and a couple of jump outs at home. Gradually with each trial and jumpout he has slowly improved. His last trial was the best where he jumped and really put himself on the speed like he did today.
"He is a lovely well bred gelding now. He was extremely naughty when he was a colt.
"Matthew (Dunn) and Neil (Jenkinson) as they do go to the sales, spend lots of time there and they can come away with nice horses like this.
"There is not a lot of him as you would have seen in the yard. He is not a very big boy but he is a lovely horse with a very big future."
Purchased by his trainer and Neil Jenkinson at last year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the Sun Stud draft, the gelding is one of three winners out of Affairoftheheart (Fusaichi Pegasus) with Rocket Spade, being her most successful.
Affairoftheheart herself is out of Listed scorer Call Me Lily (Just A Dancer), making her a half-sister to dual-winning champion Soriano (Savabeel) and Group 3 scorer Kaiser Franz (Savabeel).
Affairoftheheart's 2019 colt by Sun Stud-based sire Thronum (Snitzel) was purchased for $7,000 by Regal Thoroughbreds via the Inglis Digital August Sale last year, while she has most recently been served by Thronum's barnmate National Defense (Invincible Spirit).
Snitzel has enjoyed a successful 24 hours with his juveniles, with Zerelle and Holstein's wins coming a day after Chimes broke her maiden at Newcastle on Tuesday to take the stallion's juvenile winners count for the season to eight and they are headed by two stakes winners; Group 1 winners Sword Of State and Group 2 scorer Four Moves Ahead.
The son of Redoute's Choice (Danehill) has 45 lots catalogued at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, which gets underway on Tuesday.
