Following the first-up win of the Redoute's Choice colt Pariah in the Group III Canonbury Stakes it was the turn of Redoute's Choices' daughter Snitzel to claim the Group III Widden Stakes at Rosehill Gardens with the Michael Freedman-trained Teaspoon.
The Arrowfield Stud homebred debuted with a win at Canterbury on November 5 when she drifted in betting to start at $7.
She started at the same price on Saturday in a wide-open betting market with fourth-placed Boorooj and 12th placed Divine Messenger starting the $6 favourites.
With Hugh Bowman in the saddle, Teaspoon took the lead 800 metres from home but looked likely to be swamped when challenged in the straight. But she fought back tenaciously to win by half a length from Mystic Empire (All Too Hard) with first starter Sweet Deal (Casino Prince) a half-neck back in third. (photos Steve Hart)
Freedman said there was plenty to like about the win and will chart a course towards the $3.5 million Golden Slipper on March 18.
"She's given them weight today," Freedman said.
"Hugh has had to use her up a little bit from that wide gate.
"She was there to be run down and she kept fighting."
"If she gets through today OK we've got a few nice fillies' options leading into possibly the Slipper."
Teaspoon is a sister to the Group III ATC Epona Stakes winner Aliyana Tilde, who stayed well enough to place in the Group I Sydney Cup, Group I ATC Oaks and Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes. She is the 16th and final foal of Patronella and becomes the fourth stakes-winner for the Mister C mare who earned and honourable retirement in December 2015.
Patronella is also the dam of dual Listed winner Stella Artois (Geiger Counter) who is the dam of Group II SAJC Breeders' Stakes Freestyle, and the Group III winner Smytzer's Trish (Geiger Counter, the dam of Listed winner Swish Trish (Redoute's Choice).
There just may be a fifth stakes winner waiting in the wings for Patronella as her 3yo daughter Bacarella (Beneteau) was second behind Foxplay in the Group II Furious Stakes at Randwick and second to the top-class
There will be smorgasbord of Snitzels for buyers to inspect with 10 at the Inglis Classic Yearling sale, 13 at the Inglis Premier and 44 bluebloods heading to Easter.
