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 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.
