Lofty Strikes Again

Mark Smith - Saturday February 12

Julius Sandhu will head to Caulfield in a fortnights time with a chance of a maiden Group 1 after his blueblood colt Lofty Strike made it two from two in the Group II Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g)  (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

All roads lead to the Blue Diamond (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Jamie Mott, the son of champion sire Snitzel and Golden Slipper heroine Overreach powered home to defeat the Shalaa (IRE) colt Semillion by one and a quarter length with the Epaulette colt Daumier a further half-length back in third.

The favourite Jacquinot (Rubick) missed the start and was never a factor.

Advertisement

“It’s exciting, that was a big win, Sandhu said.

“it was really nice to see him actually get here at a different course that has its own challenges.

“He was off the bit a long way from home and then just picked it up and went down to the line quite impressively.

“He put them away quite well.

“We’ll make sure he comes back and pulls up well and hopefully he ticks all the boxes and is sound.

“We’ll go back home and celebrate this a little bit, as we should.

“It is an endorsement to the team, not just me, as the stable has worked really hard to keep him the way he is.

“There’s a lot of excitement, that’s for sure.”

Lofty Strike. What is he worth now? (image Grant Courtney)

Mott was impressed how lofty Strike finished the race off after coming under pressure before the turn.

“It was a very special moment, I’m sure Julius agrees, Mott said.

“He’s a beautiful animal. I was really confident after last start that he has the makings of a nice horse and he showed us that today.

“I felt I had to get into the race to make sure the ones upfront hadn’t skipped away. I was under pressure around the corner. I wouldn’t say I was worried but I wasn’t really making good ground at that stage but once I balanced on straightening he put them away quite easily.

“He’s handling it all well. Julius’ team have done a good job with him and he’s a horse with a really bright future and hopefully he can be back here in two weeks and do it again.”

Lofty Strike was a $280,000 purchase by the Paul Lofitis managed Lofty Thoroughbred Group from the Corumbene Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions.

Lofty Strike a $280,000 Magic Millions yearling

The son of Snitzel is the second foal of Corumbene’s 2013 ATC Golden Slipper winner Overreach.

The daughter of Exceed And Excel had a troubled start to her broodmare career.

Her first foal by Sepoy died then she missed to Fastnet Rock before foaling a Snitzel colt named Talbragar.

Retained to race by George Altomonte, Talbragar won his only start at Narromine in October last year for Kody Nestor. He has not been seen since and is now in the stable of Cody Morgan.

A sister to Group II ATC Expressway Stakes winner Standout and Widden Stud’s stakes-placed Outreach, Overreach is a three-quarter sister to Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort a great stalwart for Chatswood Stud before his death last November.

Overreach has a yearling filly by Snitzel and a filly foal by Zoustar.

She was covered by Capitalist last spring.

Snitzel. His 2yos are flying

Advertisment

Race Result - Neds Blue Diamond Prelude-C&G Gr3 1100m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.98
1
Lofty Strike
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Overreach (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Julius Sandhu Rdr: J Mott 57
2
1.3
Semillion
- 2c Shalaa (IRE) x Sistonic (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 57
Shalaa
3
1.8
Daumier
- 2c Epaulette (AUS) x Illustrate (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 57
4
1.9
Counttheheadlights
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Tahni Dancer (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ben Allen 57
5
2.0
Jacquinot
- 2c Rubick (AUS) x Ponterro (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Damian Lane 57
6
5.3
River Ribble
- 2c Ribchester (IRE) x Donna Dingles (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Craig Williams 57
7
5.8
Philosopher
- 2c Zoustar (AUS) x Lone (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Ms L J Meech 57
8
7.5
Lascars
- 2c Sepoy (AUS) x Alizes (NZ) (Rory's Jester (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 57
9
11.5
Crowning Moment
- 2g Pariah (AUS) x Kenzie (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: Jamie Kah 57
More Reading...
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Snitzel Colt Makes a Statement on Debut
The impeccably bred Snitzel colt Lofty Strike stamped his Blue Diamond ticket with a stunning debut over 1100m at Flemington on Saturday.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Lofty Strikes in the Rubiton
Connections of the Snitzel colt Lofty Strike can expect renewed interest from studmasters after the three-year-old returned to the winners circle for the first time in a year in the Group II McCafe Rubiton Stakes at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday.