Snitzel's Sure Knee Strikes in Sapphire Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday June 27

Luke Dittman teamed up with Chris Waller to win both Group III features at Doomben on Saturday.

Following the win of Another Dollar in the Premier’s Cup, it was the turn off the 4yo Snitzel mare Sure Knee to earn a maiden stakes success in the Group III Tab Sapphire Stakes (1630m).

The Ingham family homebred came with a barnstorming finish to beat Krone (Eurozone) by a length with the favourite Baccarat Baby back in third.

Assistant trainer Paul Shailer admitted he was not confident in the run.

"She looked like she was in a fair bit of bother, we were a long way off them and she didn't want to settle," Shailer said.

"It was another brilliant ride from Luke, he didn't panic back there, got her to settle down eventually and pulled her to the outside to have last crack at them.

"It's always good winning in these colours. The Ingham's have always been massive supporters of the stable and having a Group Three beside this mare's name now should only increase her brood mare value when that day comes.

Advertisement

The daughter of Snitzel advances her record to 7 wins, 4 seconds and 1 third from 24 starts with earnings of $531,940.

She comes from a Gooree family that we highlighted recently.

Sure Knee is out of Shawnee Girl, a million dollar Encosta de Lago yearling out of a half-sister to Group One winner and champion sire Northern Meteor and stakes-winners Queen Of The Hill and Rabbuka.

Shawnee Girl's second dam is Explosive (USA) is also the dam of the unraced Comical Smile, who left stakes-winners Smart Missile, Surge Ahead and Kiss From A Rose.

Ingham Bloodstock purchased Shawnee Girl as a yearling for a $1 million from the Widden Stud draft at Easter 2008. She subsequently won four races and finished third in the Group II Magic Night Stakes as a two year-old.

Sure Knee is her third foal and second winner, with her first foal, Oklahoma Girl winning three times and finishing second in the Gr1 Queensland Oaks and Gr2 BRC The Roses.

Shawnee Girl has a yearling colt by Fastnet Rock and a weanling filly by American Pharoah (USA).

She was covered by The Autumn Sun last spring.

Sure Knee becomes the 103rd stakes-winner for Champion sire elect Snitzel who stands at Arrowfield stud in 2020 for a service fee of$165,000. 

Sure Knee wins at Doomben - image Racing Q Twitter

Advertisment

Race Result - Sapphire Stakes Gr3 1630m

Doomben Track: Good(4) Time: 1:38.14
1
Sure Knee
- 4m Snitzel (AUS) x Shawnee Girl (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: L R Dittman 57
2
1.0
Krone
- 4m Eurozone (AUS) x Soft Landing (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: B N Stewart 57
3
1.2
Baccarat Baby
- 4m Casino Prince (AUS) x Meerlust (AUS) (Johannesburg (USA))
Tnr: David Vandyke Rdr: Ryan Maloney 57
Casino Prince
4
1.3
Barefoot
- 4m Show A Heart (AUS) x Hey Blondie (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: Tony & Maddysen Sears Rdr: James Orman 57
5
2.8
Red Stina
- 4m Red Dazzler (AUS) x Kristina (AUS) (Sequalo (AUS))
Tnr: R G Lipp Rdr: Ms T Harrison 57
6
3.1
Strome
- 5m Smart Missile (AUS) x Lateral (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Ms S Thornton 57
7
4.1
Tricky Gal
- 4m Magic Albert (AUS) x Velocity Gal (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Baylee Nothdurft 57
8
5.3
Delectation Girl
- 6m Delegator (GB) x Chushka (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: A Mallyon 57
9
6.1
Paint The Town Two
- 5m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Italic (GB) (Medicean (GB))
Tnr: S B Laming Rdr: S Cormack 57
10
6.3
Mewstone Rock
- 8m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Star Of Gretchen (NZ) (Bahhare (USA))
Tnr: J G Symons & S Laxon Rdr: L V Cassidy 57
11
6.4
Shuhood
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Shahad (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: R Fradd 55
12
8.1
Teleplay
- 5m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Special Episode (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M Cahill 57
More Reading...
Belclare Seeking to Find Best Form Back in Australia
Dual Group One winner Belclare’s return home for a three-race campaign didn’t go to plan earlier this year, and now she is back on the other side of the Tasman to try and get her preparation back on track.
Pedigree Watch – Euro 3YO - Classic Potential
Interesting racing overnight at Newmarket with a couple of Classic key lead up stakes races for three year-olds and the winners were both first time stakes-winners, one from the family of Sydney autumn carnival staying star Alalcance and the other a homebred Dubawi filly for Juddmonte.
Yes Yes Yes It’s Been a Big Week for Kate Nivison!
This time last week passionate owner breeder Kate Nivison was basking in the success of having bred and sold a $1.7million Extreme Choice colt at Inglis Easter and today she was enjoying a different sort of success as a winning owner at Kembla.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday April 15
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Kembla
The juvenile maiden at Kembla on Tuesday was an intriguing affair featuring a number of well-bred and very expensive colts on debut, but the winner was a stylish first starter filly by Capitalist that broke 56 seconds for her debut win.
Arrowfield Announce 2025 Fees
In the wake of his third Golden Slipper winner and his career-best yearling sale results, multiple Champion Sire Snitzel heads the 2025 Arrowfield stallion roster at an unchanged fee of $247,500, while Castelvecchio has earned a deserved fee increase.
El Vencedor Primed for Hong Kong
It is full steam ahead for the connections of El Vencedor, as the star galloper jets off to Hong Kong on Thursday in preparation for the Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on April 27.
FBAA Professional Development Day- Food for Thought
The Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia’s third Continued Professional Development Day was again held at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday 8th April 2025 and was hosted by MC Vin Cox.
Kiwi Sprint Star Crocetti Arrives in Perth
Kiwi Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has landed in Perth ahead of next week’s A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse.
Who Do You Pick? Star Mares of Tomorrow
In chatting with our guest Jim Clarke this week on our Tara Talks Racing podcast we discussed a topic that will no doubt spark plenty of interest from our audience, if you could have one three year-old filly to take forward and race next season at four, who would it be?