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...
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.