Expensive Snitzel Colt Highness Off to the Gold Coast

Mark Smith - Wednesday December 13

The $900,000 Snitzel colt Highness is off to the Gold Coast for the $3,000,000 Magic Millions 2yo Classic following a dynamic performance in Wednesday’s $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2yo Classic (RL) (1200m).

Highness wins the Wyong MM 2YO - image Steve Hart

 

Ridden by Tommy Berry for Michael Freedman, Highness tracked the leader Spywire, who looked to have the race safely in his keeping at the 200m. Highness put in the big bounds over the final 100m and went past Spywire so quickly it seemed to startle Tyler Schiller.

Advertisement
Highness defeated the Trapeze Artist colt by a half-length with a further four and three-quarters back to the well-supported Street Boss (USA) debutant Toque, who scrambled around the home turn.

It was the second start for Highness, who was appearing for the first time since finishing sixth in the Group III Breeders Plate at Randwick in September.

“He’s such a laid-back character, and I was a bit worried about how disinterested he looked,” Freedman said.

“Tommy had to give him one around the backside to wake him up.

 “I think he has a really good future. I loved his run in the Breeders’ Plate, where he did not have a great deal of luck.

“He is still a bit showy in condition and he is still learning to be a racehorse. I think he did that today on raw ability so if he comes through it OK, we have a ticket to the Gold Coast, so fingers crossed.

“I hear they ran good time, which is a good indication for young two-year-olds. Even though it was a small field it might be a good form race.

“We are four weeks away (from the 2yo classic), so I think he will have a trial. He does not need to go to the races again.”

Highness and his connections are off to the Gold Coast - image Steve Hart

Bred by Owen Egan, Ron Hamer, and Mick Johnston, Highness was a $900,000 purchase for James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Highness a $900,000 Magic Millions yearling

Eight years ago, Capitalist carried the same colours to win this race before adding the Magic Millions 2yo Classic and the Golden Slipper.

“It’s very exciting,” Harron said.

“He showed great tenacity and cruised to the line.

“We want these horses to be laid back and not do too much at home and he has that attitude.

“When Tommy got going on him, he responded. He paraded super, and hats off to Tommy, he gave him a great ride, and this is the importance of having him doing the early work on the horse; he knew what he had. Two hundred metres out, I thought he was going to run a good second.”

Highness is the best of three winners from four to race for the unraced Northern Meteor mare Diana’s Star.

A half-sister to 5-time Group 1 winner and Horse Of The Year, Dissident, Diana’s Star has a yearling colt by So You Think, in the Segenhoe draft heading to Inglis Easter and a colt foal by Maurice (JPN).

Highness is the 139th stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s champion stallion Snitzel.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Magic Millions Wyong 2yo Classic (RL) RL 1100m

Wyong Track: Good(3) Time: 1:03.25
1
Highness
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Diana's Star (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
2
0.7
Spywire
- 2c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Secret Trail (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Tyler Schiller 56.5
Trapeze Artist
3
5.3
Toque
- 2f Street Boss (USA) x Gorgons (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 54.5
4
5.5
Justice Please
- 2f Justify (USA) x Pleasurable (IRE) (Camelot (GB))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 54.5
5
9.5
Sneaky Sofia
- 2f Merchant Navy (AUS) x Shoboard (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: D Lane Rdr: Reece Jones 54.5
6
13
Pierolite
- 2c Pierata (AUS) x Unswerving (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: S Clipperton 56.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday February 15
Here is the full list of 99 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
La Dorada Claims Local Victory In Matamata Feature
Local filly La Dorada backed up from her stunning victory in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) last month with another gritty performance to take out her home track feature, the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Lady Shenandoah Stunning In Light Fingers Return
Despite being a Group I winner, three-year-old filly Lady Shenandoah has thus far been cast in the shadow of one of her stablemates, however after a stunning autumn return in the Group II Light Fingers Stakes, it is looking like this one is the star attraction.
Singapore Connection Delivers Sepals G3 CS Hayes
The $200,000 Group III VRC CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday produced a dominant winner in lightly raced Calyx (GB) gelding Sepals, an $80,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Vinery Stud for his trainer Cliff Brown, who enjoyed much success in Singapore before returning to Australia.
Fangirl Leads Waller Trifecta in G2 Apollo Stakes
The $300,000 Group II ATC Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday is the traditional starting point for elite WFA horses seeking autumn glory in Sydney and the first three over the line are all trained by Chris Waller with the mighty Fangirl leading the way.
G1 Lightning Triumph for Skybird - Magical Week for HP Thoroughbreds
Anthony and Kristen Evans from HP Thoroughbreds thought they’d had a great week when they sold their highest ever priced yearling at Inglis Classic but it got quite a bit better when one of their previous Classic graduates won the Group I Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Rise At Dawn Resumes In Style
Next month’s A$2.5 million Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m) is looming large on the horizon for Rise At Dawn, who scored his fourth win in succession with a smart first-up performance in the A$175,000 Listed The Elms Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
What You Wish For Completes Big Treble For Te Akau
Matamata’s biggest day of the year was completely dominated by Te Akau Racing, who won three of the four black-type features on Saturday afternoon.
Blueblood Written Tycoon Filly Wins Listed Desirable
The ‘golden crop’ of champion sire Written Tycoon unearthed a new stakes-winner at Flemington on Saturday when progressive filly Cilcap made a winning first attempt at stakes class to take out the Listed VRC Desirable Stakes (1400m).
Godolphin win G3 Triscay with Zoustar Mare
Godolphin don’t purchase many yearlings, but one that they did is four year-old Zoustar mare Inhibitions and she ended a frustrating run of stakes placings to win her first stakes race when taking out the $250,000 Group III ATC Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday and she has a full sister headed to Inglis Easter.