There is a myriad of Snitzel sons at stud this spring, but for value and proven credentials it’s impossible to go past Rosemont Stud’s Cox Plate hero Shamus Award, who posted his first stakes-winner of the new season when exciting mare Pop Award landed the Listed MRC Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Trained by Lyn Tolson & Leonie Proctor, Pop Award has been given time to mature and the five year-old has been in rare form this year reeling off five successive wins starting with a maiden victory in January.
Her latest win came when stepping up to Black Type for the first time with Matthew Cartwright in the saddle.
Pop Award loomed into contention after turning for home and when challenged by $1.6million earning race favourite Arkansaw Kid she had the right answer, forging clear to win by more than a length.
Pop Award has won five of seven starts with two minor placings earning over $240,000 in prizemoney.
Her connections can now look to the future with further stakes goals in the pipeline.
“We had to come to this race to get her rating points up and see where she is at for the spring, so that was the plan,” said Leonie Proctor.
“She just goes about her business, it is so exciting.”
Pop Award was retained to race by her breeder Debbie Kroger and is the second winner and last foal from five time winning Jeune (GB) mare Miss Popkins, who comes from a European female family as a grand-daughter of Group II winner Popkins, the dam of Champion UK 2YO Filly Cherry Hinton.
Pop Award is the 29th stakes-winner for Rosemont stud’s Shamus Award, who stand at a fee of $33,000 this spring.
