Snitzel's Exhilarates Captures Atlantic Jewel

Mark Smith - Saturday September 7

After making a quick start on the odd-on favourite Exhilarates in Saturday's Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes at Moonee Valley, Craig Williams elected to stay out of the early speed battle and it proved the winning move.

Cheer Leader and Taraayef set a hot speed up front with the Snitzel filly Exhilarates settling well in a stalking spot.

Advertisement

Roused up before the home turn the Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner disposed of the front-runners then held off the previously undefeated Toronado filly Sassy Salitage by three-quarters of a length with the consistent Epaulette filly St Edward's Crown a short-neck back in third. (images Grant Courtney)


Exhilarates had opened her 3yo campaign with a win in the Group III Quezette Stakes at Caulfield on August 17.

"Everyone is riding their horses to accommodate the way the track is playing," Williams said.

"That's why you found me in front early because there was not much pressure, everyone wants to be stalking than making it all, lucky for me I was on the best horse, she was extremely well placed and weighted to day and she is a little dynamo.

"It will be interesting to see where they go with her. How far they want to go in distance and they have the option of taking the blinkers off if they want her to go further."


Looking for some fresh blood, global powerhouse Godolphin went shopping at the Magic Millions for the first time in 2018 and they came away with eight yearlings.

The equal highest price at $600,000 was Vinery Stud's Snitzel filly who has proved to be a sound investment with a record of 4 wins and 3 seconds from 9 starts with earnings of $1,550,900.

Exhilarates is the first named foal of Samaready whose six wins from 13 starts included the Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes in 2012 and Group 1 MVRC AJ Moir Stakes the following year.

The daughter of More Than Ready (USA) has a 2yo colt by All Too Hard. After slipping in 2017, Samaready was covered I Am Invincible last spring.

It was a remarkable few minutes for Arrowfield Stud's Snitzel who is on the way to defending the Australian Champion Sire title he has won for the last three seasons after his champion son Redzel disposed of a quality field on sprinters in the Group III Concord Stakes at Randwick.

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
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.
Snitzel's Away Game Sizzles to Massive Payday in MM Classic
Luke Currie won a second The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in three years when emerging filly Away Game stunned her rivals in Saturday’s $2 million contest at the Gold Coast.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Two $1.4million Colts by Snitzel
Champion stallion Snitzel is rocking the Inglis sales ring.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.