Another G1 Winner for Snitzel?

Media Release - Friday November 15

Well-bred filly Love Poem will take on some of the best of her generation for the second time in a week when she lines up in Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 52nd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

Love Poem will back-up in Saturday's Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The daughter of Snitzel is backing up from last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), in which she ran a gallant second behind standout colt Savaglee.

“I thought it was a brilliant run,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “She was just beaten by the season’s benchmark three-year-old. We went up and had a look at him in the straight, but he just kept finding and won very well in the end. He’s obviously an exciting colt.

“But hey, we’ve got a beautifully bred Snitzel filly who’s a multiple stakes placegetter, and that now includes a second in a Group One. That’s a great outcome.”

Racing in the colours of Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, Love Poem was bought by Bruce Perry for A$280,000 as a yearling in Sydney last year. She is a half-sister to the classy Ciaron Maher-trained mare Estriella, whose 12-start career has so far produced five wins headed by last month’s Gr.2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m). Their dam, the Lonhro mare Madrigals, is a full-sister to multiple Group One winner and quality sire Pierro.

Love Poem has herself had six starts, winning a maiden at Te Rapa in late September and placing at black-type level in all of the other five. She placed in last season’s Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m), Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m), and she has continued that trend into her three-year-old season with placings in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and last Saturday’s 2000 Guineas.

Marsh has been pleased with the way Love Poem came through the 2000 Guineas, which was run in 1:33.86 – the third-fastest time in the history of the race.

“She’s bounced through it beautifully,” Marsh said. “We’re happy to back her up again on Saturday with the addition of side winkers.

Advertisement

“She was making up ground behind the favourite (Alabama Lass) in the Soliloquy Stakes a few weeks ago, and I think she’s a better filly left-handed as well, so we’re going into Saturday in good shape.

“It’s a quality field with the likes of Alabama Lass, Captured By Love and also Andrew Forsman’s exciting filly (Kitty Flash), but I think we’re going into it with a runner that can be right in the finish again.”

Marsh will also be represented in Saturday’s Gr.3 Martin Collins 161st New Zealand Cup (3200m), in which Nest Egg will attempt to go one better than his runner-up finish behind Mahrajaan last year.

Nest Egg went into last year’s Cup as the winner of the lead-up race on the first day of the carnival, the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m). He ran in the same race last Saturday and finished eighth behind Mehzebeen.

“He probably just over-raced a little bit on the first day,” Marsh said. “This time in, he’s feeling better and going better than he ever has before. He might have just got a bit too keen in the blinkers. The blinkers will come off for the Cup.

“He’s come through the first day very well. With that run under his belt, and ridden a bit more neutrally, I think he can be very competitive.”

Both Love Poem and Nest Egg will be ridden by Matt Cartwright. The TAB rates them $11 and $12 chances respectively. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
New G1 Winner for Too Darn Hot
Fresh from siring two new stakes-winners in Europe on Saturday Too Darn Hot (GB) kept the momentum going on Sunday with a new Group I winner and Tornado Alert is a half-brother to Just Fine (IRE), winner of the Group I ATC The Metropolitan in 2023.
Stallion Shares in Cool Aza Beel Offer Rare Opportunity via Magic Millions Virtual Sale
Breeders will have a timely chance to invest in one of Australia’s most exciting young stallions next week, with two individual stallion shares in Cool Aza Beel to be offered via the Magic Millions Virtual Sale on Tuesday, August 5.
Beaufort Downs Celebrate Stakes Success with Platinum Diamond
A pedigree close to the hearts of Beaufort Downs has added another black-type strike to the North Canterbury farm’s roll of honour.
Another G1 Triumph for Aga Khan Stud Bred Gelding
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who made it back to back G1 wins overnight when beating a select field in a tactical battle to win the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.
Steve Davis Awarded NZTBA Personality of the Year
Bloodstock auctioneer and media personality Steve Davis has been honoured as the 2025 NZTBA Personality of the Year, in recognition of a lifetime of contribution to the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 28
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tenth Winner for Kings Legacy
King’s Legacy has had a promising start to his stud career with his tenth winner arriving on Tuesday while at the Rosehill trials one of his unraced youngsters produced a slick trial win to hold out Group performing colts Skyhook and West of Swindon.
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 27
Here is the full list of 54 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Zousain Sunday 2YO Double
Zousain is surging to the end of the season with a double of new 2YO winners on Sunday bringing his seasonal tally of juvenile winners to 13.
Savabeel Stakes-Winner in the Making
A patient approach with Force Of Nature is being rewarded in spades, with the son of Savabeel winning his way toward black-type assignments.