$750,000 Snitzel Filly Makes Anticipated Debut

Tara Madgwick - Thursday November 23
There's no pressure on high-priced and beautifully-bred Snitzel filly Autumn Wild when she makes her debut in Saturday's Listed Ashford Lodge Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe, says Matamata trainer Lance O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan's Wexford Stables went to $750,000 to snare Autumn Wild at this year's Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney, bought in partnership with Hermitage Thoroughbreds and Andrew Williams Bloodstock.

Hermitage Thoroughbreds have enjoyed Group One success with O'Sullivan and his co-trainer Andrew Scott in the past 14 months through Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) winner Willie Cazals and Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) winner Summer Passage.

Autumn Wild as a yearlingAn impressive winner of her two trials at Te Awamutu then Cambridge, Autumn Wild is out of Regimental Gal, whose wins included the Gr.1 Lightning Stakes (1000m), Gr.1 Australia Stakes (1200m) and the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m).

"She'll probably start one of the favourites and she has trialled really well but there's no expectation on her to win," O'Sullivan said.

"We bought her at the Sydney Easter sales for the same owners as Summer Passage and we'll build her up slowly. She'll take plenty of improvement out of this race. There will be a lot of upside with her with the outing but this is not her grand final.

"It races like a long 1100m at Pukekohe.If we hadn't drawn seven and had that wide barrier to contend with, we might have started at Te Rapa on Sunday."

Matamata-based Australian jockey Jake Bayliss takes the ride at Pukekohe in a two-year-old feature that features just the solitary race winner, the impressive five-length Otaki victor Pinot Grey.

Bayliss has been booked to ride She's A Thief in the Wentwood Grange Juvenile (1000m) at Te Rapa on Sunday, though that horse remains in the Pukekohe field.

She's A Thief won her Cambridge trial impressively the same day as Autumn Wild and in a time similar to her and another Matamata-trained debutante, Bit Lippy.- NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
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.
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.
Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man – Shinzo Rises to Golden Slipper Triumph
Widely regarded as the most open Golden Slipper for years, the $5million high octane dash at Rosehill on Saturday delivered drama and delight as champion trainer Chris Waller collected his first Golden Slipper trophy with a homebred colt for Coolmore trained to the minute.
Two $1.4million Colts by Snitzel
Champion stallion Snitzel is rocking the Inglis sales ring.
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.
Snitzel's Away Game Sizzles to Massive Payday in MM Classic
Luke Currie won a second The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in three years when emerging filly Away Game stunned her rivals in Saturday’s $2 million contest at the Gold Coast.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
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.
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.