Tough win for Snitzel's Zennzella in Wakeful Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday October 29

Carrying the colours sported by Hitotsu in last year’s Victoria Derby, the Snitzel filly Zennzella was all courage in Saturday’s Group II Racing and Sports Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

Tough win (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by James McDonald for Ciaron Maher and David Eustice, Zennzella took up a forward position from an outside barrier. Hitting the front a long way out, the daughter of Snitzel kept up a relentless gallop to defeat the American Pharoah (USA) filly Pavitra by a long neck with two lengths back to the Deep Impact (JPN) filly As Times Goes by in third.

The Toronado (IRE) filly Queen Air put in a fine Victoria oaks trial with a fast-finishing fourth.

Zennzella broke her maiden at her most recent start with a four and three-quarter length romp over 1600m on the Pakenham Synthetic.

David Eustice said they will wait before committing to a start in the Oaks.

“We’ve always felt she’s a nice filly, we’ve just been very patient with her,” Eustice said.

“We were keen not to kick her off on heavy tracks, so we had to bite the bullet and run on the synthetic, she won really well, and she just thrived from that run so we came here today quite confident.

Will she back up in the Oaks (image Grant Courtney)

“James gave her the most beautiful ride, he waited and waited, and conserved energy and we said to him beforehand that’d be the key, just how seasoned is she so I thought she was very good, and he rode her extremely well.”

McDonald said it was a gutsy performance.

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“She’s a beautiful big filly, great constitution never spends a penny before the race and even in the race,” McDonald said.

“That was a good, tough effort. I thought she was entitled to be beaten on the line, and she pulled out all the stops. It wasn’t really the position I wanted to be in to be fair, the leader was dropping off but I didn’t want to alter her momentum flowing into the straight, but she sustained a good gallop and it was a good job.”

Bred by Gerry Harvey, Zennzella was a $350,000 purchase for Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

She had two starts for Lloyd Kennewell before being transferred.

Zennzella is the first live foal of the triple Group III winning Zenno Rob Roy (JPN) mare Zennisto who was a $200,000 purchase for Baramul Stud at the 2018 National Broodmare Sale.

Zennisto has a yearling brother Zennzella and is back in foal to Snitzel.

Zennzella is the 128th stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s champion Snitzel.

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Race Result - Racing And Sports Wakeful Stks Gr2 2000m

Flemington Track: Soft(7) Time: 2:04.75
1
Zennzella
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Zennista (NZ) (Zenno Rob Roy (JPN))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Westbury Stud Ltd, Karaka, NZ (As Agent)
Buyer: Withdrawn
2
0.4
Pavitra
- 3f American Pharoah (USA) x Gypsy Robin (USA) (Daaher (CAN))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: J Parr 55
3
2.4
As Time Goes By
- 3f Deep Impact (JPN) x A Time For Julia (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: B Melham 55
4
2.6
Queen Air
- 3f Toronado (IRE) x Rain Cloud (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: B Mc Dougall 55
5
3.6
Let'sbefrankbaby
- 3f Frankel (GB) x Baby Pink (IRE) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Lachlan King 55
6
4.6
Jenny Jerome
- 3f Churchill (IRE) x Tortoni (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: Damian Lane 55
7
5.3
Grey Northern
- 3f Shocking (AUS) x Bluegrass (AUS) (Fasliyev (USA))
Tnr: Simon Zahra Rdr: Damien Thornton 55
8
5.4
Whakamana
- 3f Sacred Falls (NZ) x Divine Shiva (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
9
5.5
Makrana
- 3f Pierro (AUS) x Gunawati (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: M J Dee 55
10
8.0
So Dazzling
- 3f So You Think (NZ) x Dazzling Lady (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: D Oliver 55
11
10.0
La Gioia
- 3f Pierro (AUS) x Tears Of Joy (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: D W Stackhouse 55
12
10.2
Artocracy
- 3f Flying Artie (AUS) x Fitocracy (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: Peter Lafferty Rdr: D Yendall 55
13
11.0
Uptick
- 3f Pierro (AUS) x Rebound (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: C Schofield 55
14
11.3
Barbwire Baby
- 3f Jimmy Creed (USA) x Keep The Klass (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: S R Fisher Rdr: Teodore Nugent 55
15
23.3
Thinking Rain
- 3f So You Think (NZ) x Cleo's Raine (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: John Allen 55
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