A Debutant Snitzel Winner for Godolphin

Mark Smith - Friday January 28

Snitzel debutant Sandpaper denied a first Australian winner for the Coolmore first crop stallions Caravaggio (USA) and Churchill (IRE) courtesy of a fearless Hugh Bowman ride in a 1250m 2yo maiden at Canterbury on Friday.

It could have quickly gone pear-shaped for Bowman, who was trapped in a zip-fastener pocket on the Godolphin runner in the 5-horse field. He found a narrow seam along the rail, and Sandpaper did not flinch. The son of Snitzel defeated the front-running Caravaggio (USA) colt Great Siege by three-quarters of a length with a further short-head back to the heavily supported Churchill (IRE) colt Robusto in third.

A Godolphin homebred, Sandpaper is the first foal of the unraced Lonhro mare Smooth, a sister to the champion Pierro. The global superpower famously sold Pierro as a weanling when pinhooked by Musk Creek Farm for $115,000.

All was not lost for Godolphin as Pierro’s half-sister Ambience (Street Cry) won the Group II VRC Wakeful Stakes and Listed ATC Dulcify Quality Handicap.

Advertisement

Snitzel

Smooth never made it to the races after three barrier trials.The daughter of Lonhro missed to Snitzel in 2019, but she foaled an Exceed And Excel filly last spring before visiting Godolphin’s triple Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath (IRE) (Dubawi).

Sandpaper is the fourth 2yo winner of the season for Arrowfield Stud’s flagship stallion Snitzel.

Advertisment

Race Result - Drinkwise Dmn Plate 1250m

Canterbury Track: Good(4) Time: 1:14.47
1
Sandpaper
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Smooth (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 57
2
0.8
Great Siege
- 2c Caravaggio (USA) x Kimblewick (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: J R Collett 57
3
0.9
Robusto
- 2c Churchill (IRE) x She's Clean (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
4
1.7
A Lot More Love
- 2f Sebring (AUS) x Little Bita Love (AUS) (Snippetson (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: J Innes Jnr 55
5
6.3
Dreamtime Legend
- 2c Wandjina (AUS) x Whey Sauce (JPN) (Kurofune (USA))
Tnr: M C Conners Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 57
More Reading...
Melbourne Cup Next for UK Raider Onesmoothoperator
Winner of the Group III Geelong Cup last year at his first Australian appearance, UK trained stayer Onesmoothoperator (USA) had not won a race since then but was back in the winning groove last night take out the $750,000 Group II MVRC Moonee Valley Cup (2500m).
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Darby Online Buy Sandpaper Wins Gr3 Newcastle Stakes
The Darby Racing team did it again on Friday when online purchase Sandpaper won the Newcastle Stakes (Group III).
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
The Rosehill trials on Friday morning featured a couple of juvenile heats and both winners came out of the Widden Stud draft at Magic Millions with one topping the sale at $2.8million and the other selling for a modest $150,000.
NZB Breeze Up Footage Now Available to View Online
The highly anticipated Breeze Up videos for NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale are now available to view online at nzb.co.nz.
Good News Week for Geisel Park
Geisel Park’s black-type mare Laced Up Heels is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australian Sire Zoustar and an orphan foal has found a new mum.
Magic Millions First Digital Sale - Opportunities Aplenty
Bidding is now open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale with opportunities across all levels of the market for prospective buyers.