One to Watch – Hawkesbury

Tara Madgwick - Thursday October 21


Group I MRC Thousand Guineas winner Yearning was not the only Snitzel filly that found her way from Arrowfield Stud to the stables of Hawkes Racing after they withdrew all their yearlings from the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Smirnova makes it two wins from two starts at Hawkesbury - image Hawkesbury Race Club Twitter


Smirnova made a winning debut at Newcastle on October 2 and then made it two wins in as many starts when scoring at Hawkesbury on Thursday with Tommy Berry in the saddle.

Sent out a hot favourite in the Class 1 event over 1000m, Smirnova was given a perfect ride by Berry and gave plenty when challenged to win by half a length.

Raced by Arrowfield and KCC Racing, Smirnova is the three-quarter sister to Group II placed Redoute’s Choice colt Tchaikovsky, who topped the 2017 Magic Millions Yearling Sale for Arrowfield when selling to James Harron Bloodstock for $1.3million.

Tchaikovsky ultimately ended up a very disappointing horse winning only one of 18 starts and is now a gelding.

Bred by Arrowfield, Smirnova is the fourth winner from foal to race from Ballet Blue, an unraced half-sister by Stravinsky (USA) to Group II winner The Heavyweight and stakes-winners Happy Strike, Born Western and Zedrich.

Ballet Blue has a yearling colt by Snitzel, but no foal this year after missing to The Autumn Sun.


 

Advertisment

Race Result - Fowler Civil Contracting (C1) 1000m

Hawkesbury Track: Good(3) Time: 0:57.09
1
Smirnova
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Ballet Blue (AUS) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
2
0.5
Flash Point
- 5m Charm Spirit (IRE) x Miss Pelear (NZ) (Mr Nancho (ARG))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Rachel King 57.5
3
3.5
Winds Of War
- 4g Headwater (AUS) x Mediator (AUS) (Danewin (AUS))
Tnr: T P Croft Rdr: Tim Clark 58
4
4.6
Everyone
- 4m Super One (AUS) x Easy Rock (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: A B Collett 56.5
5
8.7
Whasir
- 4g Choisir (AUS) x Solar Verde (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: I B Finn Rdr: J Ford 59
More Reading...
1.4mil Gns Record at Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up - St Mark's Basilica 750,000 Gns
A colt by Acclamation eclipsed the record price for a lot at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale when selling to Godolphin for 1,400,000 guineas on the opening day of the sale with a St Mark’s Basilica colt second highest at 750,000 guineas.
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.
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.
Switzerland To Stand Alongside Fellow Coolmore Stud Stakes Winner Home Affairs at Jerry’s Plains
Following on from a phenomenal year in the sales ring, which saw first crop Home Affairs yearlings sell for an aggregate of more than $31 million, fellow Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland will join him in the stallion barn in 2025.
Bloodstock Brains Behind the Big Stables
The modern world of big business horse training sees all the major players having trusted bloodstock agents as an integral part of their team and in the case of Bjorn Baker that person is Jim Clarke of Clarke Bloodstock.
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.
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.
Little Avondale Announce Fees - Little Brose New
Little Avondale Stud created a slice of New Zealand racing history when they successfully brokered a deal to stand Little Brose at their Wairarapa farm.
Winner 9 For Ole Kirk With Aerodrome on Debut
Ole Kirk went clear again at the top of First Season Winners list on Wednesday when the Michael Freedman trained Aerodrome made a tough winning debut at Warwick Farm.
Perle De Chocolat Breaks Maiden
Astern two-year-old Perle De Chocolat has always looked a filly with promise and she got the maiden out of thew way when winning at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.