Snitzel Colt Wins Inglis Xtra Maiden Bonus at Cranbourne

Media Release - Thursday September 19

The additional prizemoney won as part of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Maiden Series today hit $500,000 when Lofty Arch (Snitzel) scored on debut at Cranbourne.

The Alex Rae-trained Lofty Arch went straight to the lead for jockey Ethan Brown and fought off a strong challenge from runner up Certain Rise to take home the $100,000 bonus on offer.

Advertisement

The first five runners across the line today - Lofty Arch, Certain Rise, Superata, Acta Non Verba and Ahha Ahha – were all eligible for the bonus, simply by being an Inglis graduate and paid up for the $12.55m Inglis Race Series.

Of the nine runners in today’s race, seven were eligible for the $100,000 bonus.

The combination of the standard winning prizemoney and the Inglis Xtra Bonus means the connections of Lofty Arch will collect an extraordinary $120,625 in prizemoney for today’s win.

In just seven weeks of the Xtra Bonus Maiden Series, today’s was the fifth $100,000 bonus to be won, at five different racetracks in three different States – Coffs Harbour, Sale, Sunshine Coast, Scone and now Cranbourne.

Paul Lofitis of The Lofty Thoroughbreds Group purchased Lofty Arch for $200,000 at last year’s Easter Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Twin Hills Stud, on behalf of his breeder Woodpark Stud.

Lofty Arch was a $200,000 Inglis Easter purchase from Twin Hills Stud.

Such is the opinion Lofitis has of Lofty Arch, the colt was set to debut in Saturday’s Listed Poseidon Stakes at Flemington, which was won by fellow graduate of last year’s Easter Sale in Growing Empire.

“But then the rain came and we didn’t want to waste a run on a wet track when we knew we had him going well so we had this race as a back-up because of the great prizemoney and the timing was just perfect in the end,’’ Lofitis said.

“In hindsight, even if he won the Poseidon, we wouldn’t have won anywhere near as much money as we did by winning this Maiden because of the $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus.

“We’ll step him up in grade now and see how he goes, there’s the [G2] Danehill and the [G1] Coolmore, both down the Flemington straight. Is he good enough? I mean he’s only won a maiden today but he did it in great style and you never know until you try.

“The Inglis Race Series is fantastic, I do 95% of my buying with Inglis and we’ll do plenty more business with Inglis in months and years to come.’’

Lofty Arch and how owners celebrate - image Inglis

Winning trainer Alex Rae added: “It’s a wonderful privilege to get a Snitzel colt into the barn so we needed to deliver.

“He was very forward because we were toying with the idea of actually starting him in the Stakes race on Saturday instead and for that, he needed to be really screwed down.

“There’ll be natural improvement to come and he’s a really nice colt.’’

A total of 50 maidens Australia-wide – effectively one each week – will carry the $100,000 Xtra Bonus per season.

To win the bonus, a horse simply needs to be an Inglis graduate and paid up for the $12.55m Inglis Race Series.

The next Xtra Bonus Maiden will be held at Goulburn next Thursday (Sept 26) in the Open Maiden Hcp over 1500m.

Nominations for that race close 11am tomorrow, Friday September 20.

For the most up to date schedule of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Maiden races CLICK HERE.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Own Spring Mdn Plate 1200m

Cranbourne Track: Good(4) Time: 1:11.51
1
Lofty Arch
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Soneva (USA) (Cherokee Run (USA))
Tnr: Alexander Rae Rdr: Ethan Brown 58
2
0.5
Certain Rise
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Concubine (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson Rdr: B Shinn 56
3
4.5
Superata
- 3g Pierata (AUS) x Spice Isle (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: G D Hickman Rdr: Craig Williams 58
4
4.9
Acta Non Verba
- 3c Blue Point (IRE) x Memento (AUS) (Your Song (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 58
5
5.3
Ahha Ahha
- 3f Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Tragic Moment (USA) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: C W McDonald Rdr: B Melham 56
6
8
Glamour Ana
- 3f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Ana's Mail (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: L Currie 56
7
8.5
The Rock Dancer
- 3g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Ennerdale (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: P Gatt 58
8
9.5
Chrislyn
- 3f Ilovethiscity (AUS) x Black Booty (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: G Eurell Rdr: Teodore Nugent 56
9
11.5
Little Bighorn
- 3g Brutal (NZ) x Little Indian (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Jye McNeil 58
More Reading...
$1.7million Flightline Colt Sets Pace at Keeneland September Day 1
The 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale is underway and as expected yearlings from the first crop of US Horse of the Year Flightline are lighting up the sale ring, while a colt by Widden Stud shuttler Cogburn’s sire Not This Time sold for $1.6million.
Lofty Arch - New Stake-Winner for Snitzel
Caulfield Cup day started with a new stakes-winner for champion sire Snitzel with lightly raced colt Lofty Arch scoring an all the way win in the Listed MRC Gothic Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
New G1 Winner for Wootton Bassett
Back in Australia for another season at Coolmore, Wootton Bassett (GB) was expected to get a 3YO Group I winner in France on Sunday, but the horse that got the job done was not the one punters expected.
El Vencedor Crowned NZ Horse of the Year
Rich Hill Stud’s standing as a centre of thoroughbred excellence has been further emphasised with El Vencedor named New Zealand’s Horse of the Year.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 8
Here is the full list of 18 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Shamus Award Mare Quintessa Cracks $1million in Prizemoney
Karaka graduate Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) became a millionaire and a dual Group One winner with a stunning last-to-first performance in the $400,000 Group One Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G3 in South Korea
Australian bred Deep Field gelding Self Improvement was the pride of Hong Kong on Sunday when the Manfred Man trained gelding captured the Group III Seoul Korea Sprint (1200m) in South Korea.
Tara Talks Racing – This Week We Talk to Bennett Racing
In the wash up of last Saturday’s great day of spring racing there was no winner that meant more to his connections than Group I MVRC Moir Stakes victory Baraqiel, so our obvious guest this week had to be Nathan Bennett.
Impressive First Foals for Don Corleone
The first son of outstanding sire Extreme Choice to find his way to Queensland, Group I performer Don Corleone proved very popular with breeders last spring covering 133 mares at Eureka Stud and his first foals are exactly what you might hope for.
Vale, Fastnet Rock
Fastnet Rock was a crowd pleaser when paraded as a living legend at the Coolmore stallion parade last month, but sadly this spring was to be his last.