Mr Mozart (AUS)
Mr Mozart (AUS)
2 c Snitzel – Euro Angel by Rip Van Winkle
O: Jamieson Park, Mr D V Russo, Mrs P F Collins, Mr A R McDonald, Mr R L Milne, Mr PJ Duggan
B: Jamieson Park (Australia) Ltd, David Russo, Phil Duggan, Russell Collins, Andrew McDonald, Ron Milne
T: Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes
S: N/A
W: Vinery Stud Handicap, 1100m, Wednesday, March 3, Warwick Farm
Mr Mozart (Snitzel) marked himself out as one to follow when he staged a smart effort to make a winning debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Ridden quietly by Tommy Berry from his difficult barrier (12), the Team Hawkes-trained juvenile settled in midfield tracking a quick tempo before improving widest of all rounding the home turn. He then sprinted well to claim the lead in the closing stages, before drawing away to defeat the $750,000 I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) filly Amen Corner by a length, with a half-neck back to the $220,000 Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) filly Vaccine in third.
Mr Mozart holds entries for both the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) and ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), however co-trainer Michael Hawkes views him as more of a long-term prospect.
“Credit to Tommy. He drew a bit awkward, and he wanted to get racing, so Tommy had to take him back and get him balanced,” Hawkes said in a post-race interview.
“He is still learning and is a baby, but he has got a lot of heart and he has a lot of ability.
“Those sorts of races (the Slipper and Sires’ Produce) are always there for him but today was just about giving him a good experience and that’s what he has had.
“He is a lovely, flashy horse who will be better at three. But he is here right now and having a go.”
Homebred Mr Mozart is the first foal out of the Team Hawkes-trained Group 3 winner Euro Angel (Rip Van Winkle), the third yearling purchase by connections out of the imported Polish Precedent (Danzig) mare Polish Princess.
The first was Group 2 winner Polish Knight (Encosta de Lago), a $420,000 buy who also finished runner-up behind Ethiopia (Helenus) in the 2012 running of the Australian Derby, while the second was the multiple-winning gelding Leebaz (Zabeel), who cost $460,000 at the 2011 NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale.
Herself a $200,000 purchase at the 2014 NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale, Euro Angel is the fifth foal out of Polish Princess, purchased by Windsor Park for 75,000 guineas out of the Meon Valley Stud draft at the 2004 Tattersalls October Yearling sale.
Polish Princess won four of her 11 starts In New Zealand and was also third in the 2007 running of the Champions Mile (Gr 1, 1600m).
Euro Angel has a yearling sister to Mr Mozart and was covered by Pierro (Lonhro) last spring.