Ciaron Maher, Bennett Racing, and Snitzel are all enjoying a phenomenal run of late and combined to win Wednesday’s $100,000 Drinkwise Maiden Plate (1400m) at Randwick-Kensington with Snitzanova.
Ridden by Zac Lloyd Snitzanova launched down the centre of the track from back in the field to defeat the 3-year-old Super Seth gelding Engine Room by a long-neck with the 3-year-old Al Maher filly Brigidine Gal one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Snitzanova finished fifth on debut behind Aye Aye Captain at Rosehill.
Lloyd said he had learned something about the 3-year-old daughter of Snitzel that day as he followed her on Indecisive.
“I sat behind her at her first start, and she was on and off the bridle and over-raced,” Lloyd said.
“Joh (assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord) gave me a lot of confidence. He thought she had improved mentally. I had her a bit further back than I wanted on the Kenso, but she did well.”
A $200,000 purchase for Bennett Racing from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Snitzanova is the fourth winner from five to race for the royally-bred Galileo mare Albanilla (GB), whose dam Altitude (Green Desert) is a half-sister to triple Group 1 winner Alborada, and dual Group 1 winner Alkbanove, the granddam of the English and Irish St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov and the Group III MRC Coongy Cup winner Kingswood (GB).
Snitzanova’s 2-year-old sister Hiatus, a $350,000 buy for McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, won at Murray Bridge on debut on October 12.
Hiatus is the final foal of Albanilla (GB), who died in October 2023.