Snitzel's I Am Excited Claims Gilgai Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday October 6

Ultra-consistent Snitzel mare I Am Excited charged home from last to capture Saturday's Group II Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington

The David Pfieffer-trained 4yo looked a forlorn hope when tailed off at the halfway mark down the Flemington straight.

Switched to the outside by Kerrin McEvoy the daughter of Snitzel picked off one runner after another to defeat Eduardo (Host) by a long-neck with Bons Away (Bon Hoffa) a half-head back in third. (photos Grant Courtney )


"She's very honest. I was a bit more confident coming to Flemington today because at Caulfield (in the How Now Stakes) she had a few things go against her," Pfieffer said.

"She is a mare that needs that extra 100 metres to wins up and the bigger track, and more so down the straight was always going to suit her.

"We'll be back here on Derby day.

With her third stakes win, I Am Excited advances her record to 5 wins, 2 second and 4 thirds from 15 starts with earnings of $584,375.

A half-sister to the Group III VRC Frances Tressady Stakes winner Flippant (Hinchinbrook), I Am Excited is the second stakes-winner from the first three foals of the General Nediym mare Lady Beckworth.

Purchased by Newgate Farm's Henry Field, on behalf of SF Bloodstock, for $400,000 at the 2016 Bell River Thoroughbreds dispersal, Lady Beckworth is a half-sister to Regard (Zabeel) whose only two foals were the superstar Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) and Group 1 winner Commanding Jewel (Commands).

Newgate Farm consigned a full brother to Flippant and a half to I Am Excited at the Easter Yearling Sale where he was knocked down to China Horse Club / WinStar Farm / Raffles Racing for $300,000.

 

Lady Beckworth missed in 2016 and foaled and I Am Invincible colt on September 17.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Future Looks Bright for Excess
Corumbene Stud's George Altomonte was impressed enough by Julius Sandhu's handing of Group II MRC Rubiton Stakes winner Lofty Strike to entrust the Cranbourne-based trainer with the full-sister Excess and was rewarded with a debut win at Cranbourne on Thursday.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Two $1.4million Colts by Snitzel
Champion stallion Snitzel is rocking the Inglis sales ring.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
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.