An intriguing race for two-year-olds over 1100m opens proceeding at Randwick on Saturday with five of the seven acceptors making their first start.
They include the first three in the betting, the odd-on favourite Snapback, the Chris Waller-trained Capitalist filly Lazzago, and the hulking Exosphere colt Crucible.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Snapback and Lazzago have impressed in barrier trials without being let off the leash.
It’s hard to go past the Snitzel colt Snapback, who races for a syndicate comprising mainly of those celebrating the victory of the Capitalist colt Sovereign Fund in Wednesday’s $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic (RL).
Like Sovereign Fund, Snapback was knocked down to China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Trilogy Racing at the 2022 Magic Millions.
Consigned by his breeder, Arrowfield Stud, the handsome son of Snitzel, was an $825,000 purchase.
A hefty price tag, but Snapback’s siblings have given his connections plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
His 3yo sister Wee Nessy has three wins, a second, and a third from seven starts, including a last-start victory in the Listed MVRC William Crockett Stakes.
Snapback’s 4yo brother Adios has been in hot form for Frankie Lor in Hong Kong, winning two of his last three.
Their dam Later Gator was a talented performer, firstly for Gai Waterhouse and then Peter Moody.
The daughter of More Than Ready (USA) made a winning debut at Canterbury, defeating subsequent Group II ATC Tea Rose Stakes winner Longport, before finishing third behind Epaulette in the Listed Black Opal Stakes.
Unplaced in the Group II Magic Night Stakes won by Emire Of Japan’s dam Ichihara (General Nediym) and in Pierro’s Golden Slipper, Later Gater added a race at Cranbourne at three.
Arrowfield purchased Later Gator for $185,000 off Strawberry Hill Stud at the 2013 National Broodmare Sale.
A half-sister to Group III performed Mossman mare Next The Universe, Later Gator is a fifth-generation descendent of the peerless Denise’s Joy.
Saturday’s race has extra importance to Arrowfield Stud, which consigns a Dundeel half-sister to Snapback to the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale (lot 549).
Later Gator missed last season.
Snitzel has a whopping 46 yearlings entered for the Magic Millions in January.
