Snitzel's Exhilarates to Chase a Group 1 Before Heading to Stud

Mark Smith - Saturday May 29

 A trio of 4yo Godolphin stalwarts that have won $5million between them tackled Saturday's Listed Magic Millions Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) for fillies and mares at Eagle Farm. It was the expensive purchase Exhilarates that came up trumps.

Under a perfectly timed ride by Kerrin McEvoy, the James Cummings-trained daughter of Snitzel defeated the fast-finishing Casino Prince mare Sweet Deal by three-quarter of a length with a short-neck back to the Star Witness mare Threeood in third.

Godolphin's Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes heroine Lyre clocked in fourth, while dual Listed stakes-winner Athiri was ninth, although just a little over two lengths from the winner.

"It was a beautiful, quiet ride by Kerrin," Cummings said.

"This will be her last preparation before she goes to stud.

"That might just entice us to think about the Winter Stakes or perhaps even the Stradbroke.

Exhilarates (image Grant Courtney)

"She has been a wonderful mare for our stable. To win a Magic Millions as a 2yo and win a Magic Millions sponsored race as a 4yo is quite amazing.

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"She loves coming to Queensland and so do we. She is a pleasure to train and had been sound with a wonderful temperament, a great attitude and when she is ridden like that, she has an excellent turn of foot."

The winner of the Magic Millions 2yo Classic, Exhilarates advances her record to six wins, seven seconds and one third from 22 starts with earnings of $2,371,300.

That is a healthy return on the $600,000 outlaid by Godolphin for Vinery Stud consigned filly when they went shopping for the first time at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.  

Exhilarates a $600,000 Magic Millions Yearling

Exhilarates is the first-named foal of Samaready, whose six wins from 13 starts included the Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes and Group 1 MVRC AJ Moir Stakes.

Coolmore's Tom Magnier purchased the daughter of More Than Ready (USA) for $1,800,000 at the 2020 Inglis Chairman's Sale.

She was carrying a brother to Exhilarates, who was born on August 26 last year. She was bred back to Justify last spring but missed.

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Race Result - M.M. Helen Coughlan Stakes LR 1200m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 1:11.32
1
Exhilarates
- 4m Snitzel (AUS) x Samaready (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 57.5
2
0.8
Sweet Deal
- 6m Casino Prince (AUS) x Dorothy Evelyn (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: N Rawiller 58
Casino Prince
3
1.0
Threeood
- 5m Star Witness (AUS) x Sencircles (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: B Avdulla 57.5
Star Witness
4
1.1
Lyre
- 4m Lonhro (AUS) x Erato (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jamie Kah 55.5
5
1.4
Wonderful Riri
- 5m Barbados (AUS) x Tsarina Wonder (AUS) (Churchill Downs (AUS))
Tnr: S O'Dea & M Hoysted Rdr: Ben Thompson 55.5
6
1.6
Madam Rouge
- 5m Zoustar (AUS) x Cabernet (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58.5
7
1.7
In Good Time
- 6m Time Thief (AUS) x Turbo Rose (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: T J Bartley Rdr: Ron Stewart 56.5
8
1.9
Splendoronthegrass
- 4m So You Think (NZ) x Mumbai Rock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: David Vandyke Rdr: Ms S Thornton 55.5
9
2.1
Athiri
- 4m Lonhro (AUS) x Retsina (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Parr 57
10
2.2
Sierra Sue
- 4m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Centree (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: J Bowman 58.5
11
2.5
Shaik
- 3f Sebring (AUS) x Apprise (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 54.5
12
2.7
Luna Mia
- 5m Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Luna Bella (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: Paul Messara Rdr: Craig Williams 55.5
13
4.0
Intrepidacious
- 4m Shooting To Win (AUS) x Courageous Kitty (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: Tim Clark 56
14
4.1
Stellar Pauline
- 3f Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Negotiate (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J R Collett 54.5
15
4.8
Blazing Miss
- 4m Sizzling (AUS) x Jahre (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: M Cahill 56
16
5.6
L'cosmo
- 4m Lonhro (AUS) x Cosmic Endeavour (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: David Vandyke Rdr: M R Du Plessis 55.5
17
5.8
Socialising
- 5m Bel Esprit (AUS) x Costa Mesa (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: J Byrne 55.5
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