Irithea Makes it 90 Stakes Winners for Snitzel

Mark Smith - Saturday April 27

Beaten into second place by White Moss in the Group II Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 13, the 5yo Snitzel mare Irithea scored a well-deserved maiden stakes win in Saturday's Group III Hawkesbury Crown (1300m).

Stakes placed four times since August last year, Irithea led at every call under Josh Parr to defeat the favourite Multaja (Medaglia d'Oro) by a length with Manicure (Exceed And Excel) another two and three-quarter lengths back in third. (images Steve Hart).

Advertisement


It was an exciting few minutes for Derby Racing whose colours were carried to victory by Jagged Edge (Better Than Ready) in the Listed Dalrello Stakes at Eagle Farm.

Irithea advances her record to 7 wins, 6 seconds and 4 thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $528,890.

"It's not often you say a five-year-old keeps improving but I thought at the start of this preparation she was going better than ever," winning trainer Bjorn Baker said.

"She deserves a stakes win, she's been there or thereabouts at her last four or five starts, it was a super win.

"Josh rode her perfectly. It's great for Darby Racing and a great group of owners.

"We'll have a bit of a think and might go straight to Queensland and give her a few weeks between runs. I wouldn't rule out nominating her for a race like the Stradbroke and having a go."

Darby Racing outlaid $90,000 secure Irithea from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2015 MM National Yearling Sale.

She is the third winner from four to race out of the unraced French Deputy mare Kirovskaya who is a daughter of the Group III winning Sadler's Wells mare Kirov Premiere who came to Australia from Japan later in life.

In Australia she left the stakes-placed Redoute's Choice mare Savannah's Choice who is the dam of Spendthrift Farm's Group III Zeditave Stakes winner Overshare (I Am Invincible).

Kirov Premiere left a star in Japan in Cessario the Champion 3YO Filly in Japan in 2005 and now n elite broodmare producing the Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia, Group 1 Hopeful Stakes winner Saturnalia and Group 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes winner Leontes.

Kirovskaya has a 2yo Smart Missile filly that made $50,000 at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and a Real Impact colt that was bought by Clarry Connors for $30,000 at this year's Magic Millions.

She has a weanling filly by Mikki Isle (JPN) and was covered by Scissor Kick last spring.

Irithea becomes the 90th stakes-winner for Snitzel who is cruising to his third consecutive Champion Sire Title.

Advertisment
More Reading...
New SW Savabeel- Sir Albert wins Listed Spring Classic
Classy gelding Sir Albert starred in the Listed Sothys Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday in another winning double for Terri Rae, but the local trainer was only a nose and a neck away from an even more remarkable day.
New SW Ace High- She's a Hustler Continues Kiwi Bred Success
Talented five-year-old mare She’s A Hustler scored a game victory in the Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday continuing a landslide of Kiwi bred success in Australia this spring.
Fastnet Rock and Waller Cox Plate Quinella
A genuine champion sire should be able to produce the horses that win the very best races in the country in which they stand and the late great Fastnet Rock have us a demonstration of that when his high class Northern Hemisphere bred offspring Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) fought out an epic finish to the $6million Group I MVRC WS Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
VRC Derby Favourite Strengthens His Chances With G2 Vase Win
When breaking his maiden by five lengths at just his second start last season, Ghaiyyath's colt Observer looked to have above average ability, but it was his third last start in the Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) that had everybody talking about the exciting prospect.
G2 McEwen Stakes To Jigsaw - Fifth Black Type Victory
A previous Group 2 winner at Moonee Valley a few years back, Jigsaw’s connections would’ve headed into Saturday’s Group 2 MVRC McEwen Stakes (1200m) with a level of confidence despite tackling last start Group 1 MVRC Manikato Stakes winner Charm Stone.
Future Looks Bright for Excess
Corumbene Stud's George Altomonte was impressed enough by Julius Sandhu's handing of Group II MRC Rubiton Stakes winner Lofty Strike to entrust the Cranbourne-based trainer with the full-sister Excess and was rewarded with a debut win at Cranbourne on Thursday.
Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man – Shinzo Rises to Golden Slipper Triumph
Widely regarded as the most open Golden Slipper for years, the $5million high octane dash at Rosehill on Saturday delivered drama and delight as champion trainer Chris Waller collected his first Golden Slipper trophy with a homebred colt for Coolmore trained to the minute.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Lindermann Cracks $4million in Earnings
Gelded after losing form following his tenacious victory in the 2023 Group I ATC Rosehill Guineas, the Chris Waller trained Lindemann has embraced life as a gelding and has been on fire this spring racking up a series of lucrative wins including the $750,000 Group III ATC Craven Plate (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Invincible Colt Wins $1million G2 Callander Presnell for Godolphin
Progressive I Am Invincible colt Ohope won the $1million ATC Tapp Craig (1400m) at his previous start, however was not rewarded officially with Black Type for that result, but he did achieve stakes-winner status at Randwick on Saturday when scoring a determined win over quality colt Rivellino in the $1million ATC Callander Presnell (1600m).