Snitzel Strikes with Bend The Knee in Amanda Elliott Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday November 6

The great Snitzel struck on the final day of the Flemington Carnival when John O’Shea’s progressive three-year-old Bend The Knee outfought Port Louis in the Listed Amanda Elliott Stakes (1400m).

Bend The Knee joins Port Louis (image Grant Courtney)

With Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle, Bend The Knee was coming off a second to Snitzonfire on the Kensington track at Randwick on October 20.  Both McEvoy and Hugh Bowman on Port Louis elected to cut the corner before easing out to the centre of the track.

In a stirring duel over the final 200 metres, Bend The Knee handed connections of the Maurice (JPN) colt Port Louis another heartbreaking defeat by a half-head with the Press Statement colt Daily Bugle coming from last to finish a further one and a half lengths back in third.

Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd and Katsumi Yoshida's Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd bred Bend The Knee, while runner-up Port Louis carries Yoshida's colours.

“I was a little bit lucky that my horse quickened from an unfavourable spot, McEvoy said.

“They were opening up in front of me, and I was able to angle out. He was able to quicken through and got out into a good spot where we needed to be, up the middle.

“He is a nice young horse that has progressed nicely. He enjoyed himself with blinkers on and John is having a great run.”

John O'Shea Racing purchased Bend The Knee for $300,000  from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Bend The Knee (image Grant Courtney)

He is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the talented Encosta De Lago mare Kneeling.

Katsumi Yoshida purchased Kneeling for $800,000 off Yarraman Park at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

The winner of the Listed MRC William Crockett Stakes, Kneeling is a half-sister to the outstanding Hong Kong performer Winner’s Way (Starcraft) and Listed Ortensia Stakes winner That’s a Good Idea (Flying Spur).

Bend The Knee a $300,000 Magic Millions yearling

Bon Ho paid $380,000 for a full-sister to Bend The Knee at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Named  Dashing Legend, the Snitzel filly is in the Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes stable.

Kneeling has a yearling filly by The Autumn Sun and was not served last year.

Bend The Knee becomes the 116th stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Snitzel and an industry-leading ninth stakes-winner for the season to date.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Amanda Elliott Hcp LR 1400m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:23.99
1
Bend The Knee
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Kneeling (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
2
0.1
Port Louis
- 3c Maurice (JPN) x Cat By The Tale (USA) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J Bowman 55.5
3
1.6
Daily Bugle
- 3c Press Statement (AUS) x Hold Me Closer (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: G Boss 54
4
1.7
Cardinal Gem
- 3g Choisir (AUS) x Eloquent Ruby (AUS) (Turffontein (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 54
5
3.2
Jimmy The Bear
- 3g Jimmy Creed (USA) x Belvedere Road (AUS) (Street Boss (USA))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: D Yendall 54
6
3.9
Decent Raine
- 3f Dissident (AUS) x Royal Raine (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: H Coffey 54
7
4.3
Cape Breton
- 3c Vancouver (AUS) x Exclusive Lass (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 54
8
4.8
Lavish Girl
- 3f Xtravagant (NZ) x Ends In Tears (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M J Dee 54
9
6.3
O'President
- 3c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x O'Marilyn (AUS) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58.5
10
6.7
Soobooma
- 3g Sooboog (AUS) x Makrooma (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: R J Besanko Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
11
7.5
Our Heidi
- 3f Needs Further (AUS) x Scout Finch (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: B Prebble 54
12
7.7
Micro
- 3c Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Miniature (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Fred W Kersley 54
13
8.4
Volcanic Rock
- 3g Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Heat Of The Fire (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: M & L Cerchi Rdr: Teodore Nugent 55
14
9.2
Smytzer
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Gold Chant (AUS) (El Moxie (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54
15
9.4
Dangers
- 3c Astern (AUS) x Vendanges (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Shea Eden Rdr: Zac Spain 54
16
11.9
Our Boy Bryan
- 3g Unencumbered (AUS) x Divine Beauty (AUS) (Don't Say Halo (USA))
Tnr: Jack Laing Rdr: Lewis German 54
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.