Last week we saw New Zealand Derby winner Gingernuts post an easy victory in the Group I ATC Rosehill Guineas and this week it was the turn of Jon Snow, who was third to him in the New Zealand Derby.
Prepared by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Jon Snow (images Steve Hart) was sent out favourite for the 2000 metre contest and always looked the winner.
He travelled well up in second place for Damian Lane after jumping from the outside
gate in the field of 11 and powered to the line to win by nearly three lengths
over the Victoria Derby hero Prized Icon."He's got a lot of talent. There's a lot of good form out of the New Zealand Derby. He couldn't have impressed me any more," said Lane.
"As we know most of them handle the wet track and they are always rock hard fit, so it takes them a long way."
A $65,000 NZB Select Yearling purchase from the Haunui Farm draft for Andrew Forsman, Jon Snow has won two races and placed five times from 11 starts earning over $280,000 in prizemoney.
He is the first winner for Orinda, a half-sister by O'Reilly to Group III winner Mr Ubiquitious and grand-daughter of Group I New Zealand Oaks winner Solveig.
It's a prolific Black type family that has delivered a variety of stakes-winners including the Group I AJC Sydney Cup winner Gallic.
Both Jon Snow and Gingernuts are by the Haunui Farm based shuttler Iffraaj (GB), a son of Zafonic, who died tragically in the spring of 2002 at Arrowfield Stud after covering just four mares.
Jon Snow is the 48th stakes-winner for Iffraaj.
