Snitzel Strikes with Bend The Knee in Amanda Elliott Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday November 6

The great Snitzel struck on the final day of the Flemington Carnival when John O’Shea’s progressive three-year-old Bend The Knee outfought Port Louis in the Listed Amanda Elliott Stakes (1400m).

Bend The Knee joins Port Louis (image Grant Courtney)

With Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle, Bend The Knee was coming off a second to Snitzonfire on the Kensington track at Randwick on October 20.  Both McEvoy and Hugh Bowman on Port Louis elected to cut the corner before easing out to the centre of the track.

In a stirring duel over the final 200 metres, Bend The Knee handed connections of the Maurice (JPN) colt Port Louis another heartbreaking defeat by a half-head with the Press Statement colt Daily Bugle coming from last to finish a further one and a half lengths back in third.

Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd and Katsumi Yoshida's Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd bred Bend The Knee, while runner-up Port Louis carries Yoshida's colours.

“I was a little bit lucky that my horse quickened from an unfavourable spot, McEvoy said.

“They were opening up in front of me, and I was able to angle out. He was able to quicken through and got out into a good spot where we needed to be, up the middle.

“He is a nice young horse that has progressed nicely. He enjoyed himself with blinkers on and John is having a great run.”

John O'Shea Racing purchased Bend The Knee for $300,000  from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

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Bend The Knee (image Grant Courtney)

He is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the talented Encosta De Lago mare Kneeling.

Katsumi Yoshida purchased Kneeling for $800,000 off Yarraman Park at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

The winner of the Listed MRC William Crockett Stakes, Kneeling is a half-sister to the outstanding Hong Kong performer Winner’s Way (Starcraft) and Listed Ortensia Stakes winner That’s a Good Idea (Flying Spur).

Bend The Knee a $300,000 Magic Millions yearling

Bon Ho paid $380,000 for a full-sister to Bend The Knee at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Named  Dashing Legend, the Snitzel filly is in the Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes stable.

Kneeling has a yearling filly by The Autumn Sun and was not served last year.

Bend The Knee becomes the 116th stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Snitzel and an industry-leading ninth stakes-winner for the season to date.

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Race Result - The Amanda Elliott Hcp LR 1400m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:23.99
1
Bend The Knee
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Kneeling (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
2
0.1
Port Louis
- 3c Maurice (JPN) x Cat By The Tale (USA) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J Bowman 55.5
3
1.6
Daily Bugle
- 3c Press Statement (AUS) x Hold Me Closer (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: G Boss 54
4
1.7
Cardinal Gem
- 3g Choisir (AUS) x Eloquent Ruby (AUS) (Turffontein (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 54
5
3.2
Jimmy The Bear
- 3g Jimmy Creed (USA) x Belvedere Road (AUS) (Street Boss (USA))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: D Yendall 54
6
3.9
Decent Raine
- 3f Dissident (AUS) x Royal Raine (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: H Coffey 54
7
4.3
Cape Breton
- 3c Vancouver (AUS) x Exclusive Lass (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 54
8
4.8
Lavish Girl
- 3f Xtravagant (NZ) x Ends In Tears (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M J Dee 54
9
6.3
O'President
- 3c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x O'Marilyn (AUS) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58.5
10
6.7
Soobooma
- 3g Sooboog (AUS) x Makrooma (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: R J Besanko Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
11
7.5
Our Heidi
- 3f Needs Further (AUS) x Scout Finch (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: B Prebble 54
12
7.7
Micro
- 3c Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Miniature (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Fred W Kersley 54
13
8.4
Volcanic Rock
- 3g Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Heat Of The Fire (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: M & L Cerchi Rdr: Teodore Nugent 55
14
9.2
Smytzer
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Gold Chant (AUS) (El Moxie (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54
15
9.4
Dangers
- 3c Astern (AUS) x Vendanges (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Shea Eden Rdr: Zac Spain 54
16
11.9
Our Boy Bryan
- 3g Unencumbered (AUS) x Divine Beauty (AUS) (Don't Say Halo (USA))
Tnr: Jack Laing Rdr: Lewis German 54
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