Extreme Choice Colt Don Corleone in Golden Slipper Picture

Mark Smith - Saturday January 21

The Extreme Choice colt Don Corleone put himself in Golden Slipper contention when overcoming a troubled run to make a winning career debut in the Petaluma Hcp (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Don Corleone was a smart debut winner at Randwick - image Steve Hart

Ridden by James McDonald for Peter and Paul Snowden, Don Corleone was never closer than three deep the trip from an outside barrier.

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The Breednet Best On Breeding quickened impressively over the rise to defeat the $1,700,000 I Am Invincible filly Kundalini by three-quarters of a length with the $320,000 Invader colt Coincide three lengths back in third.

“He has always been a nice horse who has shown a fair bit at home,” Peter Snowden said.

“His trials have been OK, so I put the blinkers on to make a statement and make sure he is the horse I believe him to be.

“He is a very nice horse. There is plenty of him, and he is tough and has plenty going for him. He has got a great attitude and is very laid back.

“Sprinting is not his go, but he made a statement today that he knows what racing is about and delivered in spades.”

Bred by Gilgai Farm, Don Corleone was the third most expensive lot at the 2021 National Weanling Sale when knocked down to China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock for $650,000.

He is a half-brother to four winners, including The Drinks Cart (Unencumbered), who placed behind Rothfire in the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes.

Don Corleone's dam Snipzu, a daughter of the recently deceased Snippetson, won four and was second to Hussousa in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes and placed in the Group III BJ Mclachlan Stakes and Listed Calaway Gal Stakes.

Snipzu's dam Pilgrim is a half-sister to Arkady. A homebred for John Denoon, Arkady won the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill. That was the culmination of four consecutive wins, which began with a welter at Rosehill, then the Listed Underwood Cup, and Queanbeyan Cup.

Don Coleone a $650,000 MM National Sale Weanling (image Gilgai Stud)

Arkady proved his Ranvet win was no fluke when Octagonal edged him out in the Group 1 Mercedes Classic (Tancred Stakes).

Denoon won the Ranvet a decade previously with Arkady's sire Myocard.

Not served in 2020, Snipzu foaled a Written Tycoon filly on November 20. 

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Race Result - Petaluma Hcp 1000m

Randwick Track: Soft(5) Time: 0:57.51
1
Don Corleone
- 2c Extreme Choice (AUS) x Snipzu (AUS) (Snippetson (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
2
0.8
Kundalini
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Ruud Awakening (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J R Collett 55
3
3.8
Coincide
- 2c Invader (AUS) x Conversely (IRE) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 58
4
5.0
Inhibitions
- 2f Zoustar (AUS) x Workdrinks (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
5
5.1
High King
- 2c Russian Revolution (AUS) x Alteza Real (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry 57
6
6.5
Mojave Desert
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Fine Bubbles (AUS) (Casino Prince (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Avdulla 57
7
6.9
Kalimba
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x African Piano (JPN) (Deep Impact (JPN))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Tyler Schiller 55
8
7.4
Fleetwood
- 2c Encryption (AUS) x Jennifer Juniper (AUS) (Time Thief (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Parr 57
9
7.5
Brave Agenda
- 2f Brave Smash (JPN) x Morganza (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: R & L Price Rdr: Brock Ryan 55.5
10
7.6
Intruder
- 2g Epaulette (AUS) x Miranda Jane (AUS) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: C Schofield 57
11
7.9
Scorpion Jack
- 2c () x Queen Of Eight (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: B Prebble 57
12
12.1
Rockabilly Rebel
- 2f Street Boss (USA) x Text'N Hurley (AUS) (Hard Spun (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 55
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