Ascot hat-trick a Snip for Scenic Lodge

Media Release - Tuesday January 25

Winning updates for next month’s Perth Magic Millions Sale maxed out Ascot’s postponed 11-race card on Monday.

Scenic Lodge was the main beneficiary when racing resumed in Perth after the current heatwave saw Ascot’s Saturday program held over following a 40 degree forecast.

Spin The Knife / Photo: Western Racepix

The Muchea nursery dominated the first half of Monday’s meeting with a Universal Ruler double (Uni Queen & Rulelee) and a Snippetson single with Spin The Knife who is on track for the $200,000 Magic Millions 3YO Trophy at Pinjarra on February 5.

“We have eight by Snippetson and five by Universal Ruler,” Scenic Lodge general manager Jeremy Smith said.  “In saying that, there’s more diversity than last year including a couple of good-sized, well-bred fillies by Magnus.  The Perth market loves Magnus.”

Scenic Lodge sold the top-priced filly at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions, a $200,000 Snippetson from Pearlesque, and returns with her half-brother by Universal Ruler (Lot 7). 

“He kicks off our draft and another $200,000 would be a good start,” Smith admitted.  “He’s a quality colt from a black-type family.”

Pearlesque (Statoblest) has thrown a Stakes winner (Friar Fox) and a Stakes performer (Friaresque) by Blackfriars and an Ascot-winning full-brother (King Cruzer) by Universal Ruler.

The other Universal Ruler that Smith mentioned is the colt from Crystal Gardens (Lot 111).  “He’s bigger and stronger than his half-brother by Snippetson that we sold for $100,000 last year.”  That colt was purchased by agent John Chalmers on behalf of Bill Godecke and, appropriately, has been named Bill Selects. 

Advertisement

Godecke was a legend at Gloucester Park before crossing over from harness racing to the gallops.  He owned and trained 2015 Kalgoorlie Cup winner Woodsville who was by Scenic Lodge legend Blackfriars.

Among the Snippetsons, Smith rates his filly from True Storm (Lot 58).  “The dam won six sprints in Perth and this is her best foal to date.  She’s correct and it’s a fast family with this season’s Burgess Queen winner Buzzoom close up.

“The Snippetson - Diamond Card colt (Lot 288) somehow slipped the cracks into Book 2.  He looks a fast, early-maturing 2yo for next season.  It’s a great page.  The dam is a half-sister to Karuta Queen.”

A Zoustar – Karuta Queen filly topped Day 1 of the Gold Coast Magic Millions a fortnight ago when makng $950,000 to the bid of Peter Moody.

Scenic Lodge purchased Snippetson from the Hunter Valley to sire precocious stock that train on and the former Widden Stud resident has kept his side of the bargain with Tinsnip (G3 WA Sires' Produce Stakes) in his first western crop, Gemma's Son (RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic) in the second and Spin The Knife (4 wins from 7 starts) in the third.

His latest 2yo crop is about to take off with three winners at last week’s Belmont barriers trials - Hot Chatter, Snippagent and Spiritson who defeated another unraced Snippetson named Compak.

Spin The Knife was the first-leg of a unique double for Mitch Pateman on Monday.  The popular jockey, whose family is steeped in racing on both sides of his pedigree, announced his retirement after piloting the Luke Fernie-trained sprinter to victory in the Crown Perth Plate (1100m).

This'll Testya's trainer Mitch Pateman with apprentice Holly Taylor  / Photo: Western Racepix

A little over two hours later, Pateman opened his account as a full-time trainer with Dawson Stud-bred mare This’ll Testya (Testa Rossa) in the Vale Dr Joe McDermott Hcp.  “It’s probably my best moment in racing,” he told Ernie Manning of The West Australian Newspaper.  “I teared up after winning on Spin The Knife but I was even more emotional as a result of the mare’s win.”

Fernie was delighted to play a part in Pateman’s final winner in the saddle. 

“Mitch has always been a show-off,” Fernie joked.  “He’s been a good mate for a long time and I’m glad this horse has helped make his riding retirement so special.”

A premiership-winning trainer of the future, Fernie was also impressed with Spin The Knife’s all the-way-victory, first-up victory while at a loss to explain why he drifted from $1.75 to $2.80.   “He’s a super horse and was on a Winterbottom Stakes campaign earlier this season.  I knew he would deal with that mob pretty easily today and it was a good trial for the Magic Millions Trophy next month.”

Spin The Knife was bred and sold by Scenic Lodge for $55,000 at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions.  His dam Zany Lady (Zeditave) is from the black-type family of G2 Champion Fillies Stakes winner Mercurial Madam (Is It True) and she foaled a Snippetson filly in August.

Buyers who cannot attend the Perth Magic Millions Sale can bid with confidence through accredited on-site bloodstock agents at the Swan Valley sale-ground.

The contacts for those bloodstock agents can be viewed here

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
Extraordinary Results on Record Day One at NZB Ready to Run
Day One of NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale witnessed incredible results across the board, including an Australasian record for a two-year-old at auction.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.
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.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
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.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
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.