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.

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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

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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
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