With three stakes winners, it's been another productive weekend for Arrowfield Stud's Snitzel.
The diverse group was headed by the 4-year-old Young Man Power in the Group III Fuji Stakes (1600m) at Tokyo Racetrack on Saturday, before the hugely impressive 2-year-old debutante Azazel in the valuable Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley.
To cap off the weekend the 8-year-old gelding First Course joined the eclectic group when leading at every call in Sunday's $150,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
It was the first stakes win for the Ken Keys-trained gelding in his 58 start career.
Under a positive ride by apprentice Ben Thompson, First Course clung tenaciously to his lead to defeat Cool Chap ($5) by a nose with the lukewarm
Sent to Darwin in July last year, First Course made five starts in a month without running a place and was off the scene for nine months before resuming his career for Keys in Victoria.
He obviously has a love of the Sale track a fact not missed by his trainer.
Five of his seven starts since his northern adventure have been on the Sale racetrack and from those five he has won three and been runner-up once.
"We took a bit of a punt and freshened him up from August but he loves Sale and he loves the wet," Keys told Racing Victoria.
"He's been a terrific horse for us. He's a horse that has run a lot of seconds through his career in decent races and now he's won a decent one.
It was the first stakes success for the 19-year-old Thompson.
"Things have been going a whole lot quicker than I anticipated," Thompson told Racing.com.
"It was great to get an opportunity in the Cup today, especially for Ken Keys, who's been a big supporter of mine.
"He showed his natural gait
"I waited until the 700m to let him roll a touch; he went through his gears lovely and gave a good kick.
"I thought Cool Chap had me at the furlong, so I thought there's not much to lose, I'll pull it [the whip] into the left [hand]. He wasn't expecting it there, it might've given him a touch of a
Bred in Tasmania by Armidale Stud, First Course advances his overall record to 6 wins, 11 seconds and 4 starts from 58 starts with earnings of $369,950.
The son of Snitzel was consigned by Armidale Stud to the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling sale where Keys snapped him up for $90,000.
He is the second foal of the End Sweep (USA) mare Short 'N' Sweep a winning half-sister to Listed Keith Mackay Stakes winner
Short 'N' Sweep was purchased by Armidale Stud for $60,000 from the Lincoln Farm draft at the 2008 Easter Broodmare sale.
She has a 2yo filly by Helmet who was purchased by Ken Keys for $34,000 at this year's Magic Millions Yearling sale, and a yearling filly by resident stallion Needs Further (Encosta de Lago).
Short 'N' Sweep was not covered last year.
A member of Snitzel's second crop, Top Course becomes the 45th stakes winner for the son of Redoute's Choice.