Bandersnatch Out Slogs Them in Winter Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday July 10

On a bottomless track under leaden skies at Randwick, in-form gelding Bandersnatch lumped his top weight of 59kgs to a three and a quarter-length win in Saturday's $150,000 Drinkwise Winter Stakes (1400m).

Bandersnatch ploughs through the mud in Winter Stakes image Steve Hart

Ridden by Brenton Avdulla for Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, the 4yo son of Casino Prince galloped them into the ground.

Coming off a win in the Listed Civic Stakes at Rosehill, Bandersnatch defeated True Detective (Shamus Award) with Order Again (Iffraaj), a further one and quarter lengths back in third as nearly 20 lengths spread out the ten starters.

"Unfortunately, the rain has really set in, and that was a bit of a query for us," Wayne Hawkes said.

"I said to Brenton pre-race that he knows the horse and if he jumped and got to the front to take his time and treat it as a bit of a track gallop.

"He has not put a foot wrong since joining the stable, and that is his third stakes win.

"With a progressive horse like this, you never know. He gains confidence every time he steps out and is enjoying his training. We have thought about giving him a break; who knows where he will end up. We will see how he pulls up. That track may have taken a bit out of him. Looking at the replay, they are really getting into it, but he was just too good."

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Purchased by Geral Ryan for $42,000 out of the Amarina Stud draft at the 2018 Classic Yearling Sale, Bandersnatch advances his record to eight wins, three seconds and one third from 20 starts with earnings of $560,930.

He is the best of four winners from five to race out of the unraced Falbrav mare Divine Faith, a half-sister to stakes-placed Arrowsweep (End Sweep).

Bandersnatch a $42,000 Inglis Classic yearling

Divine Faith's dam Amaranth (USA) (Flying Paster) is a half-sister to the dam of the former Arrowfield Stud shuttler Unbridled's Song (USA), a leading stallion in North America.

Divine Faith has a weanling filly by Charge Forward and was covered by Brutal last spring.

Casino Prince will line up for his 14th season at Vinery Stud this spring, where his fee has been set at $5,500.

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Race Result - Drinkwise Winter Stakes LR 1400m

Randwick Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:28.05
1
Bandersnatch
- 4g Casino Prince (AUS) x Divine Faith (AUS) (Falbrav (IRE))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: B Avdulla 59
Casino Prince
2
3.3
True Detective
- 4g Shamus Award (AUS) x Girls Rule (AUS) (Geiger Counter (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 53
3
4.6
Order Again
- 7g Iffraaj (GB) x Glass Half Full (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: S Clipperton 58
4
7.4
Ziegfeld
- 4g New Approach (IRE) x Maid To Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Parr 56
5
7.5
Tricky Gal
- 5m Magic Albert (AUS) x Velocity Gal (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56
6
10.0
Countofmontecristo
- 7g Echoes Of Heaven (AUS) x Replicate (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J B Mc Donald 59
7
11.8
Le Gai Soleil
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Night Danza (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: A Adkins 54
8
12.9
Riodini
- 4g Proisir (AUS) x Giardini (NZ) (Perfectly Ready (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 59
9
17.5
Threeood
- 5m Star Witness (AUS) x Sencircles (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Rachel King 53
10
19.9
Rubisaki
- 4m Rubick (AUS) x Senro Kisaki (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: N Rawiller 56
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