Snitzel Filly Serasana Shines on Debut

Mark Smith - Saturday December 10

The Snitzel filly Serasana will target the $2,000,000 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield in February after making a perfect start to her race career in Saturday’s Ladbroke It Hcp (1000m) at Sandown-Hillside.

Serasana makes impressive debut (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Dean Yendall for Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock,  Serasana tracked the early speed set by Ouroboros before taking control in the straight.

The daughter of Snitzel defeated the Harry Angel (IRE) colt Ouroboros by three and a quarter lengths, with the Shamexpress filly Mislead a length and a quarter back in third.

Advertisement

There will be plenty of celebrating in South Africa as Serasana is part-owned by Drakenstein Stud and south African native Mathew de Kock is back home to be married.

Griffiths deKock Racing / MDK International / Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) shelled out $400,000 for Serasana from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Robb

ie Griffiths said the stable hold Serasana in high regard.

“She has been a good filly from the get-go. She was a quality filly at the Easter Sales and makes the $400,000 look cheap now,” Griffiths said.

‘The internationals are over there in the early hours of the morning. They were upbeat when we sent the videos over last night.

“She has always been a little steady to get into stride, but she is very strong after anything she has done in her education, and that is what she did today.   

Serasana a $400,000 Easter Yearling

“Her mum (Twilight Royale) was a (VRC) Sires’Produce Stakes filly, and she won what is now the (Inglis) Millennium, so she has plenty of substance behind her with genetics and on talent. It is all ahead of her.”

A sister to stakes-placed Royal Hale, Serasana is the fourth winner from five to race out of Testa Rossa’s Group II VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Twilight Royale.

A $45,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Bjorn Baker, Twilight Royale banked $495,750 before selling to James Bester Bloodstock for $580,000 at the National Broodmare Sale in 2014.

Twilight Royale has a yearling colt by I Am Invincible and foaled a filly by Kia Ora Stud’s resident stallion Farnan on October 8.

Champion sire Snitzel has 46 catalogued for the Magic Millions, two at the Inglis Classic and one at Karaka. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbroke It Hcp 1000m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Good(4) Time: 0:56.95
1
Serasana
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Twilight Royale (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: D Yendall 57
2
3.3
Ouroboros
- 2g Harry Angel (IRE) x Quaff (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Patrick Moloney 59
3
4.6
Mislead
- 2f Shamexpress (NZ) x Misstart (NZ) (Perfectly Ready (AUS))
Tnr: Ms R Frost Rdr: W Gordon 57
4
4.7
Cantolago
- 2f Per Incanto (USA) x Lago Rider (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: Craig Williams 57
5
5.3
Down Low
- 2f Deep Field (AUS) x Grand Daughter (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: B Mc Dougall 57
6
8.3
Energized
- 2c Brazen Beau (AUS) x Miniature (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Ethan Brown 59
7
14.3
Chief Wigham
- 2f Street Boss (USA) x Summer Laugh (USA) (Distorted Humor (USA))
Tnr: J P Salanitri Rdr: Dean Holland 57
More Reading...
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
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.
Snitzel filly Serasana Romps in the Sandown Guineas
The Snitzel filly Serasana completed a red-letter day for Kia Ora Stud at Caulfield when she made a one-act affair of the $300,000 Group II  Neds Sandown Guineas (1600m).
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
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.
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish.