Not since his own grandsire Danehill dominated the Australian Sire Championships at the start of the millennium has a stallion equalled the feat of Snitzel who was crowned champion sire for the fourth consecutive time at seasons end on Friday.
The great Danehill could easily have run up an unbroken sequence of 11. After claiming the title for the first time in 1994-95 then 1995-96 and 1996-97 he had to play second fiddle to the great Zabeel in the following two seasons. But it was one-way traffic for the next five seasons.
Snitzel may not challenge that record but he has already bettered the three titles earned by his own sire Redoute’s Choice and he is achieving it at a time where local breeders have access to some of the most fashionable stallions the world has to offer.
On a rare stakes-less Saturday in Australia, Snitzel showed he will take some beating again this season.
He had three runners at Eagle Farm for two winners, Prometheus 7g ex: Lost For Words and Dissolution 6g ex: Family Breakup, and a second Starla ex: Houston Benefactor.
He topped that at Randwick where he had five runners for three winners, De Grawin 4m ex: De Lightning Ridge, Adana 5g ex: Sabanci and Fulmina 4m ex: Inchita and a second Itz Lily 5m ex: Empress Lily who was runner-up to Fulmina.
With three runners for Snitzel at Moonee Valley, Proper Rogue 4g ex: Fairly Feline was beaten on the bob and Miss Bosetti 3f ex: Miss Iguacu was third.
And let’s not forget Lord Windermere 7g ex: Dab who won at Mt Isa.
The Randwick treble.