The Fastest Golden Slipper-Winning Colt This Century Retires to Coolmore

Tara Madgwick - Monday April 22

Snitzel’s only Golden Slipper-winning colt and last season’s Champion two-year-old Shinzo has been retired and will stand at Coolmore in 2024.

Shinzo wins the Golden Slipper - image Steve Hart

Foaled and raised at Coolmore, the supremely talented and tremendously well-bred son of Snitzel displayed an impressive burst of speed to land the sire-making G1 Golden Slipper defeating G1 winners Cylinder, Militarize and Little Brose.

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His Golden Slipper victory saw him achieve a Timeform rating of 120, making him the highest-rated two-year-old of the season and Snitzel’s highest-rated two-year-old of all time.

“He’s a very special horse, and we knew early on when he came into our system,” said trainer Chris Waller of his first Golden Slipper winner.

“He has a great temperament and is the most naturally gifted two-year-old I have ever trained. When you pair that with his great physique and pedigree, he is such a desirable stallion prospect.”

Tom Magnier purchased dual Group I winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Samaready at the 2018 Inglis Chairman’s Sale for $1.8million with a positive test to Snitzel and she duly produced Shinzo as a result of the mating.

A full brother to $2million earning Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Exhilarates, Shinzo has a diverse female pedigree featuring Group I winner Country Tyrone and Group II winner Night War with this season’s Group winning colt Prost, also by Snitzel, adding further lustre to a progressive family.

“Snitzel is a 4-time Champion sire of two-year-olds and one of the greatest stallions we have seen in Australia in the modern era,” said Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier.

“We are delighted to stand his best two-year-old and best-bred son at stud. The Golden Slipper has an unmatched record as a sire-making race and Shinzo has all the credentials we look for in a sire prospect, with an impeccable pedigree and incredible good looks. His dam Samaready won a Blue Diamond at two and a Moir at three and was herself placed in the Golden Slipper.

“We have a great group of partners involved in his ownership and his Golden Slipper win was one of my fondest ever memories on a racetrack. Being foaled, raised and broken in here at Coolmore, he was a special horse since the day he was born and we look forward to welcoming him back.”

Shinzo will stand at a fee of $50,000 + GST.

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