Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday March 10

Arrowfield Stud's super sire Snitzel flexes his muscles in Saturday's Group III Pago Pago Stakes with three sons vying for the golden ticket to the Golden Slipper, including the most expensive yearling of 2021.

The Michael Wayne and John Hawkes-trained Magic created a massive impression on debut when he charged home for second behind the unbeaten Best Of Bordeaux, also by Snitzel, in the Group II Silver Slipper at Rosehill on February 19.

Advertisement

The son of Snitzel started at $19 that day, but he will be considerably more popular on Saturday.

Bred by Arrowfield and Katsumi Yoshida's Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd, the handsome chestnut was knocked down to Team Hawkes for $2,500,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Sale.

He is the second foal of the Group 1 AJC Oaks heroine Rising Romance, whose first foal, Yearning, a sister to Magic, carried the Arrowfield colours to victory in the Group 1 MRC One Thousand Guineas.

Also trained by Team Hawkes, Yearning is a popular pick to give her dam a memorable double on Saturday when she contests the Group II Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

Could look at this pic all day-Magic a $2,500,000 Easter yearling

Rising Romance has been a frequent visitor to Snitzel, being covered by the multiple champion Australian stallion in her first five seasons

She, unfortunately, missed last spring but has a colt that looks sure to light up the ring at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in April.

Bred by John Carter, Rising Romance won five and placed in 12 of her 39 starts with earnings of $2,253,245.

In New Zealand she won the Group II Royal Stakes and the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial and was runner-up in the Group II Avondale Guineas and the Group 1 NZ Derby ( Gr1 ), both times to Puccini, as well as the Group 1 NZ Stakes, to Sakhee's Soldier, and was third in the Group 1 Eight Carat Classic.

Trainer Donna Logan crossed the Tasman with the daughter of Ekraar (USA), who debuted with a fourth in the Group 1 Vinery Stakes won by Lucia Valentina.

A fortnight later, Rising Romance defeated Zanbagh and Lucia Valentina in the ATC Oaks.

Rising Romance (image Mark Smith)

Although there were several notable performances, she raced a further 29 times for just one win at Ellerslie.

That spring, she ran Admire Rakti (IRE) to a neck in the Caulfield Cup, but she was in the David Hayes stable a year later. She finished second to Falkner in the Makybe Diva Stakes and separated Gailo Chop (FR) and Contributer (IRE) in the Mackinnon Stakes.

Purchased privately for a reported $900,000 after her race career, Rising Romance has quickly made that look a bargain.

Carter bred Rising Romance when sending to Postponed (USA) filly Post Romance to Group 1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club winner Ekraar (Red Ransom). 

Post Romance was purchased for John Carter by Paul Moroney for $52,000 at the 2005 Select Yearling Sale.

The winner of an Avondale maiden in eight starts, Post Romance is out of the stakes-placed Sir Tristram mare Pretty Wicked, a daughter of Something Wicked (Sackford), a sister to the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and Group 1 AJC Flight Stakes winner A Little Kiss.

Pretty Wicked was bred by David Paykel, the nephew of Sir Woolf Fisher, whose Ra Ora Stud imported A Little Love (USA), the dam of A Little Kiss and Something Wicked.

A daughter of J.O. Tobin, A Little Love's descendants, regularly feature in stakes races.

She is the third dam of Champion Hong Kong Miler Able One, fourth dam of Victoria Derby winner Rebel Raider, and third dam of cult hero Jungle Edge.

A Little Love (USA) is a fourth-generation descendent of Marguery (Sir Gallahad III), a sister to Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox, and granddam of Margarethen, the dam of the top-class Triilion, the dam of champion Triptych.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
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.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
New Stakes-Winner for Zoustar
The $150,000 Listed Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) provided reigning champion sire Zoustar with a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding Multinational led for home and could not be caught.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 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.