With his brother currently parading before prospective purchasers at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Snitzel colt Zerelle scored a timely win over 1300m at Sandown-Hillside on Wednesday.
Minutes after the Snitzel gelding Holstein made a successful debut at Warwick Farm, Zerelle improved on his first-up third at Sale with a fighting win.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, Zerelle continued to pull-out more when challenged strongly by the Sebring colt Three Kings to win by a half-head.
The Star Witness filly Gabstar was a further four lengths back in third.
“He has shown plenty at home and early on we thought he might make a Blue Diamond. But he had a growth period at the wrong time,” Young said.
“So, we had to put him out for about ten weeks. I think we did the right thing as he has come back bigger and better. He is still very green, very raw. He got to the front a little too soon, and he wanted to look around, so he may have a bit of head-gear next start.
“He is a Snitzel and we bought him last year just before the Easter Yearling Sale.
“He has always been very competitive at home. He pricked his ears, and his legs were going everywhere, but I think he is going to be a really, really nice three-year-old.
“We will see how he pulls up and see where he goes next. It might be the Anzac Stakes in three weeks.”
Zerelle is the first foal of the unraced Street Cry (IRE) mare Margaery Tyrell, who was purchased by Arrowfield Stud for $380,000 out of
the Segenhoe Stud consignment at the 2016 National Broodmare Sale.
A half-sister to stakes-winner Regrowth (the dam of Group III winner Color) and to the dam of the Champion 2yo Filly Forensics, Margaery Tyrell is out of dual Listed stakes-winner True Blonde.
A daughter of Naturalism, True Blonde is a half-sister to Snippets and to the dam of Not A Single Doubt.
This is the stallion making family of Coolmore Stud’s new recruit King’s Legacy, a dual Group 1 winning son of Redoute’s Choice.