The six-year-old Lope De Vega (IRE) gelding Snitch came with a barnstorming finish to win Saturday’s Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich.
Ridden by Ben Thompson, the Tony Gollan-trained gelding stood the leaders up a big start at the 300 metres. While some of his rivals were experiencing traffic problems, Snitch launched down the outside to defeat Axe (Written Tycoon) by a half-length with Right Or Wrong (Manhattan Rain) a short-head back in third.
Winning for the first time since capturing the Listed Goldmarket Quality at the Gold Coast in August last year, Snitch advances his record to ten wins, six seconds and three thirds from 40 starts with earnings of $504,160.
“We came here very confident,” Gollan said.
“His first-up run was great, and he normally does not run well first-up.
“His work since has been terrific.
“He did a great job. Ben rode him beautifully, and everything opened up nicely."
A $100,000 purchase out of the Newgate Farm draft at the 2016 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Snitch is a three-quarter brother to Gingerbread Man (Shamardal), the Champion 2YO & 3YO in Singapore in 2010 & 2011, and now an accomplished stallion.
His dam Quaffle (Hurricane Sky) was purchased by James Harron Bloodstock for $115,000 at the 2014 Patinack Farm dispersal.
The dam of six winners from eight to race, Quaffle died in 2016.