Snitzel's memorable season rolls on – with a 1-2-3 finish in Saturday's $1 million Group I Inglis Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick he is in striking distance of his own sire's seemingly unbeatable season of 2004-05.
With five live chances in the race, Snitzel hit the jackpot with Peter and Paul Snowden's striking chestnut Invader who finished best to defeat the game, Group I winning New Zealander, Summer Passage (Snitzel) with the ever consistent Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) back in third. (photos Steve Hart)
Peter Snowden was winning the race for the fourth time after Helmet and Guelph when he was head trainer for Darley and with Pride Of Dubai two years ago with his son Paul.
Hugh Bowman said that Invader missing a run in the Golden Slipper could have been the making of him.
"It was a real shame missing the Golden Slipper but it may have been a blessing in disguise.
"With the fillies winning all the majors this season that makes this horse the best colt of his era as a 2yo so that's very exciting for connections.
"I came and jumped him out last week having missed the Golden Slipper through a foot abscess. I was really pleased with the feel he gave me. We drew a nice gate which enabled me to follow tulip who I thought was one of the main dangers. When I needed him to move he was able to give me the extension that I needed and I thought he won with authority in the end.
Peter Snowden said it was a just reward for China Horse Club whose colours were also carried to victory by Snitzel's son Russian Revolution in the Group I The Galaxy.
"They put a lot of money into it and it's fitting they get these results," Snowden said.
"He's always looked to us like he wanted 1400 metres and today he got it.
"An absolute peach of a ride. The manoeuvre Hughie did on the corner to get from where he was to get out in the clear was something to behold."
Fourth in the Listed ATC Breeders Plate on debut to Khan and then fifth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic to Houtzen, Invader opened his winning account on a soft track at Randwick on February 15 before beating all bar Gunnison in the Group II Todman Stakes at Rosehill on March 4.
In opening his stakes account Invader advances his overall record to 2 wins and 2 seconds from 6 starts with earnings of $865,125.
A $475,000 Magic Millions purchase for the China Horse Club from the Arrowfield stud draft, Invader runs for a syndicate that also includes Newgate Farm, Aquis Farm, Horse Ventures and
A half-brother to star Hong Kong sprinter Not
A full sister to Invader was knocked down to Griffiths Racing for $250,000 out of the Noorilim Park draft at the recent Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Flame Of Sydney is entered for the Inglis Chairman's Sale, (LOT 51) to be held at Newmarket on April 7.
The daughter of Encosta de Lago has a colt foal by Snitzel and was bred back to Medaglia d'Oro last spring.
Snitzel's trifecta takes his juvenile earnings to almost $4 million with six stakes winners among his 23 winners.
He still has some ground to make up on Redoute's Choice whose banner season saw him have 23 winners, 10 stakes winners that accumulated earnings of 5,943,983.
Snitzel feat is remarkable considering he has not had a winner of the big three, Golden Slipper, Magic Millions or Blue Diamond Stakes to bolster his earnings.
Invader becomes Snitzel's 58th stakes winner.
