Snitzel's Empire Of Japan Dominant in Breeders' Plate

Mark Smith - Saturday October 1

The Group III Arrowfield Breeders' Plate (1000m) at Randwick has a history of showcasing a future topliner. The 2022 edition will be no different, with the Snitzel colt Empire Of Japan doing the right thing by the sponsor.

Empire Of Japan - that was soft in the end (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by James McDonald for Peter and Paul Snowden, Empire Of Japan came with a barnstorming finish from the tail of the field.

Advertisement

The strapping son of Snitzel defeated the $1.2million Exceed And Excel colt Mach Ten by three lengths with a length back to the Russian Revolution colt Physical Graffiti, who edged out the winner's fast-finishing stablemate Make A Call (Extreme Choice) for third.

"I think the writing was on the wall at the trials the other day. Just how relaxed he was and how well he hit the line," Paul Snowden said. "He’s still got a long way to go.

“It’s the second horse we’ve had out of this (dam, Ichihara), and it was pretty evident (the first) lacked a little bit of ability, but this bloke makes up for that, and he’s heading in the right direction.”

“This horse wasn’t screwed down at all for today’s event. What you see is what you get with him, he’s got a fair bit of ability and he’s got a good turn of foot.”

James McDonald said Empire Of Japan is no speedy squib.

“He’s a smart colt who takes everything in his stride,” McDonald said.

“I actually jumped him out at the official jump outs and he was a little hot that day, and the stable's done a good job to put a lid on him and put him to the trials and he ran extremely well at the trials. I was happy he just wasn't a jump and run two-year-old, which I am pleased about.”

Empire of Japan a $680,000 Magic Millions yearling

Bred by and offered for sale by Corumbene Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Empire of Japan was a $680,000 purchase for China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Starlight.

A brother in blood to Group II Run To The Rose winner Menari, Empire Of Japan is the third winner from four to race out of the smart racemare Ichihara (General Nediym).

A sister to Menari’s stakes-winning dam and the Listed winner au Chocolat,  Ichihara won four stakes races highlighted by the Group II Magic Night Stakes.  
Ichihara’s dam Cut A Dash (Whisky Road) is a three-quarter sister to Group 1 VATC One Thousand Guineas winner Whisked, the dam of 13-time Group 1 winner Tie The Knot.

Ichihara has a yearling colt by Exceed And Excel, but unfortunately slipped last season.

Empire Of Japan is the 125th stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s champion stallion Snitzel.

Advertisment

Race Result - Arrowfield Breeders' Plate Gr3 1000m

Randwick Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:00.11
1
Empire Of Japan
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Ichihara (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
2
3.0
Mach Ten
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Devious Rumor (USA) (Street Boss (USA))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry 56
3
4.0
Physical Graffiti
- 2c Russian Revolution (AUS) x Dazed And Confused (NZ) (Showcasing (GB))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: B Avdulla 56
4
4.2
Make A Call
- 2c Extreme Choice (AUS) x To Dubawi Go (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: S Clipperton 56
5
5.6
Flying Trapeze
- 2c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Coromandel (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: J R Collett 56
6
6.5
Tarabeau
- 2c Brazen Beau (AUS) x Tarabai (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56
7
7.6
Snatchreilly
- 2c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Natchwhali (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: C Schofield 56
8
7.7
Insane Volt
- 2c All Too Hard (AUS) x Very Puzzling (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: Todd Smart Rdr: G Schofield 56
9
22.7
Legolas
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Elfee (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 56
More Reading...
Spring Trial Watch – Caulfield
With a plethora of Group racing for colts and geldings last weekend and fillies to take centre stage Sydney on Saturday for the Group II ATC Furious Stakes it was interesting to see a Caulfield trial on Tuesday morning that featured six stakes-winning 3YO’s.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 2
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Debut for Blueblood Frankel Filly
We usually associate the Mark Walker stable with the tangerine colours of Te Akau racing, but it was John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds colours in the frame for the astute Kiwi trainer trainer at Benalla on Tuesday carried by blueblood Frankel filly Chateau Eze.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 1
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Waller Stable Hold the Key to Melbourne Cup
Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller has 27 of the 120 entries for this year’s $10million Melbourne Cup, which equates to more than 20 per cent of the total, so it’s probably worth having a closer look at them.
Five Lots Announced for Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale
Tattersalls Online, Europe’s leading online thoroughbred sales platform, will break new ground when offering for auction five lots who took part in the ITM Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Leopardstown Racecourse earlier this week. The sale which takes place on 3rd – 4th September can be viewed on the Tattersalls Online website www.tattersallsonline.com.
First Foals for Lofty Strike
One of the most interesting young stallions that we saw on the recent Victorian stud tour was at Swettenham Stud and it has not taken long for the big baldy face of Lofty Strike to find it’s way on to one of his first foals.
Vale, G1 winning horseman Tony Dennis
A member of one of New Zealand racing’s most famous and successful families has died, with the recent passing of Tony (Anthony) Dennis, aged 86.
Tara Talks Racing - We Chat with the Breeder of Raging Force
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes was won last Saturday by exciting Cosmic Force gelding Raging Force, so this week we’re chatting to his breeder Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, who has a self-confessed ‘mare addiction’!
Zoustar 7YO Chasing G1 for Cambridge Stud
South Africa will tackle the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night and earlier in the day a horse named after one of their favourite sons will be vying for Group One glory down the road at Ellerslie Racecourse.