Well-bred Snitzel filly shines in trial
Five juvenile heats were conducted at Rosehill on Tuesday and Chris Waller could have yet another exciting prospect on his hands in the shape of Hermitage Thoroughbreds-raced Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel), who was an eye-catching winner of her 900-metre trial.
Ridden by Lee Magorrian, the filly was partaking in her first trial, but showed no signs of greenness, scooting away to score a length win over the Bjorn Baker-trained Miss Piera (Pierata). Lady Shenandoah’s stalemate, Let’s Go Barbie (Yes Yes Yes), finished another 0.4 lengths away in third.
A $525,000 purchase by her owners from the Arrowfield Stud draft at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the daughter of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) is out of winning mare Star Pupil (Starcraft), making her a three-quarter sister to Hong Kong Group 1 winner and now Aquis Farm-based stallion Stronger (Not A Single Doubt).
Baker sent out a pair of two-year-old trial winners on Tuesday, with Ellipsis, a daughter of Yulong stallion Written Tycoon (Iglesia), and Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) colt Raikkonen, both notching wins in their 900-metre heats.
Both raced by Darby Racing, Ellipsis, who was fourth in her first trial earlier in the month, defeated $1.3 million filly I Found You (I Am Invincible) by 0.7 lengths, while debut trial-starter Raikkonen finished a 0.1 ahead of stablemate Shalaa Gold (Shalaa).
Ellipsis was purchased by Churchill Thoroughbreds for $12,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Sale in 2022, before being bought by Darby Bloodstock for $70,000 from the Fernrigg Farm draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale the following year. She is out of five time-winning Listed-placed mare Rare Occurrence (Star Witness).
Raikkonen was a $180,000 buy for his owners from the Blake Ryan Racing draft at the 2023 Inglis Ready2Race Sale and he is out of Tuusula (Street Cry), herself a daughter of multiple Group 1 winner Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice), the dam of Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Stay With Me (Street Cry) and she in turn produced Listed winner Waltz On By (I Am Invincible), who will shoot for Group 1 glory in this weekend’s Robert Sangster Stakes.
Team Hawkes were also provided with a two-year-old trial winner with Husk (Calyx) beating the Waller-trained Stars (Zoustar) in her 900-metre heat. The filly was making her reappearance having not been seen since her third-placed debut performance at Warwick Farm in December.
The first heat of the morning was won by the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained First Feeling (Russian Revolution), who was landing a trial for the first time having finished fourth and third respectively in her previous two.
The filly’s first two trials were over 740 metres and 735 metres and she clearly thrived over the extended distance of 1030 metres, coming home 0.2 lengths ahead of her stablemate Ecclestone (Exceed And Excel). Go Zola (Flying Artie) finished a further 0.3 lengths further back in third.
First Feeling was bought by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock, William Johnson Bloodstock and Donald Dickie for $200,000 at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale from the draft of her breeders Little Avondale Stud.
The filly is out of the unraced Written Tycoon mare Farrelly, who is herself a half-sister to Listed-winning duo Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom) and Barbie’s Sister (Spirit Of Boom).