breednet.com.au

$1.5million Switzerland Keeps His Golden Slipper Hopes Alive - Brother to Sell at Easter

Mark Smith - Saturday February 17

After purchasing the Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy, Coolmore took a stranglehold on the Golden Slipper after the professional performance from exquisite Snitzel colt Switzerland in Saturday’s Pierro Plate (II00m) at Randwick.

He's a ripping colt (image Steve Hart)

Given a confident ride by James McDonald, the Chris Waller-trained colt kept the top-class Alabama Express colt Shangri La Express honest in the early stages.

Advertisement

Typical of the stable, the previously undefeated Shangri La Express did not give in without a fight. However, Switzerland always had his measure and was strong to the line for a three-quarter length win.

The Extreme Choice filly Extreme Diva was a length back in third.

A nearly three-length debut winner at Randwick, the Coolmore colourbearer was promoted to second favourite for the Golden Slipper behind  Storm Boy.

Coolmore won the Golden Slipper last year with the homebred Snitzel colt Shinzo.

“It was a new learning curve for him. We made use of him from the barrier; he had to do a bit of work,” Waller said.

“He does most of his work behind horses and pretty much stays there.

“It’s early days; he is still a baby. The second horse is no slouch, and everyone knows how well FGai and Adrian’s 2-year-olds are going. It made him work the last 100m.

“I think the penny will drop now as we get deeper into our plans.

“I can guarantee he hasn’t been wound down yet. We are still four or five weeks from the grand final.

Switzerland a $1,500,000 Inglis Easter yearling

“I don’t know what’s there yet; I want to see it on Golden Slipper day.”

A $1,500,000 purchase for Tom Magnier from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Switzerland, is the first foal of the high-class Blame (USA) mare Ms Bad Behavior (CAN), a US$600,000 buy for Freyer Bloodstock at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

A 3-time winner and placed in eight of her 14 starts while banking over $500,000, Ms Bad Behavior (CAN)  was a Grade III winner at Kentucky Downs, and all eight placings came in stakes races.

Hollywood handsome (image Steve Hart)

A half-sister to stakes-winners One Bad Boy and Blessed Truly, Ms Bad Behavior (CAN)  has a brother to Switzerland in the Arrowfield Stud draft at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in April (lot 170).

After foaling her third consecutive Snitzel colt on October 1, Ms Bad Behavior (CAN)  revisited the champion son of Redoude’s Choice.

Advertisment

Race Result - Coolmore Pierro Plate 1100m

Randwick Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:03.14
1
Switzerland
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Ms Bad Behavior (CAN) (Blame (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $550,000
Seller: Arrowfield Stud, Scone
Buyer: TFI
2
0.7
Shangri La Express
- 2c Alabama Express (AUS) x Sent From Above (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 57
3
1.6
Extreme Diva
- 2f Extreme Choice (AUS) x On A Given Day (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
4
2.3
Fly Fly
- 2f Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Dawn Dawn (AUS) (All Too Hard (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Zac Lloyd 54
5
2.9
Duvana
- 2c Dundeel (NZ) x Stay With Me (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 56
6
3.8
Tardelli
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Pierro Moss (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56
7
3.9
Enriched
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Miss Atom Bomb (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry 56
More Reading...
Best On Breeding
Just three stallions, Zoustar, Exceed And Excel, and I Am Invincible, have sired the last six winners of the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Pedigree Watch – Euro 3YO - Classic Potential
Interesting racing overnight at Newmarket with a couple of Classic key lead up stakes races for three year-olds and the winners were both first time stakes-winners, one from the family of Sydney autumn carnival staying star Alalcance and the other a homebred Dubawi filly for Juddmonte.
FBAA Professional Development Day- Food for Thought
The Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia’s third Continued Professional Development Day was again held at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday 8th April 2025 and was hosted by MC Vin Cox.
Switzerland To Stand Alongside Fellow Coolmore Stud Stakes Winner Home Affairs at Jerry’s Plains
Following on from a phenomenal year in the sales ring, which saw first crop Home Affairs yearlings sell for an aggregate of more than $31 million, fellow Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland will join him in the stallion barn in 2025.
Belclare Seeking to Find Best Form Back in Australia
Dual Group One winner Belclare’s return home for a three-race campaign didn’t go to plan earlier this year, and now she is back on the other side of the Tasman to try and get her preparation back on track.
Arrowfield Announce 2025 Fees
In the wake of his third Golden Slipper winner and his career-best yearling sale results, multiple Champion Sire Snitzel heads the 2025 Arrowfield stallion roster at an unchanged fee of $247,500, while Castelvecchio has earned a deserved fee increase.
Yes Yes Yes It’s Been a Big Week for Kate Nivison!
This time last week passionate owner breeder Kate Nivison was basking in the success of having bred and sold a $1.7million Extreme Choice colt at Inglis Easter and today she was enjoying a different sort of success as a winning owner at Kembla.
Who Do You Pick? Star Mares of Tomorrow
In chatting with our guest Jim Clarke this week on our Tara Talks Racing podcast we discussed a topic that will no doubt spark plenty of interest from our audience, if you could have one three year-old filly to take forward and race next season at four, who would it be?
Switzerland Back to Brilliant Best in G2 Roman Consul Stakes
Switzerland’s return to form in Saturday’s Group II Canadian Club Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill has set Coolmore a conundrum for their slot in The Everest next week.
One to Watch – Kembla
The juvenile maiden at Kembla on Tuesday was an intriguing affair featuring a number of well-bred and very expensive colts on debut, but the winner was a stylish first starter filly by Capitalist that broke 56 seconds for her debut win.