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7NEWS
11-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Racing world in mourning after death of champion sire Snitzel
The horse racing industry is in mourning after the death of four-time Australian champion stallion Snitzel. Arrowfield Stud issued a statement on Wednesday morning, revealing that their legendary sire had passed away at the age of 23. Scroll to read the full Arrowfield statement. Snitzel had been in decline for the past 12 months due to a liver issue. Arrowfield said he had deteriorated 'rapidly' over the past week. 'With no treatment options remaining, the decision was made to allow him a peaceful and dignified farewell,' Arrowfield said in a statement. 'Arrowfield acknowledges the profound impact of his passing, not only as the loss of a great horse, but as the end of a significant chapter in the stud's history.' Snitzel was a star sprinter and in 2006 won the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield. But when he retired to stud, not long after that race, he really made a name for himself. Among Snitzel's achievements as a sire are three Golden Slippers, a Cox Plate, two Everests, four Guineas', two Golden Roses and a Flight Stakes. In fact, he sired 23 Group 1 winners, 160 individual stakes winners, and 1281 winners from 1631 runners. His progeny has collected over $270 million in winnings. 'We are all devastated by what's happened,'' Arrowfield chair John Messara said. Global Racing society said: 'Absolute tragic news from Arrowfield — what a legacy Snitzel leaves on the track, off the track and now with sire sons and broodmares carrying on such a rich legacy.' Racing presenter Isabella King said: 'Thank you for everything, Snitzel.' Jockey coach Dean Pettit said: 'Anyone who rode one or trained one knew this horses champion qualities as a sire ... fast horse, champion stallion. Snitzel a life-changing horse.' Racing host and producer Caroline Searcy said: 'How terribly sad for all close to the great 4 time Champion Australian sire, Snitzel. Thoughts with the entire Arrowfield team. What a legend.' Arrowfield full statement on champion sire Snitzel This morning, Snitzel was humanely euthanised at Arrowfield Stud, his home for nearly two decades and the base for one of the most exceptional stallion careers in Australian thoroughbred breeding history. Known for his soundness and vitality throughout most of his life, Snitzel began to show signs of age-related decline in 2024. Despite comprehensive veterinary support and the daily dedication of Arrowfield's experienced stallion team, his condition deteriorated rapidly over the past week. With no treatment options remaining, the decision was made to allow him a peaceful and dignified farewell. Arrowfield acknowledges the profound impact of his passing, not only as the loss of a great horse, but as the end of a significant chapter in the stud's history. Snitzel was more than a commercial success; he was a reliable and stoic presence who shaped the daily rhythm of life at the farm and anchored many careers. The farm also recognises the many people and partnerships that made Snitzel's career possible. These include breeder Francois Naude; trainer Gerald Ryan, who managed his racing career; the ownership partners who supported his stud career from the beginning; and the many breeders, buyers, trainers and jockeys who contributed to the success of his progeny across Australia and internationally. Snitzel, a son of Redoute's Choice and grandson of Danehill, was a Group 1-winning sprinter on the track and became an era-defining sire at stud. From the time he joined the Arrowfield roster in 2006, his trajectory was marked by consistent excellence and broad influence. He would go on to sire 160 stakeswinners, including multiple Group 1 champions and leave an indelible mark on the national breeding landscape. Snitzel's influence extends well beyond Arrowfield. His dominance of Australian sire rankings, his versatility across sprinters and stayers, and his ability to upgrade his mares made him one of the most valuable and reliable stallions of the modern era. His sons and daughters have carried his qualities forward and are already proving themselves in the breeding shed, ensuring that his legacy will continue. Like his sire Redoute's Choice and grandsire Danehill, Snitzel became a cornerstone not only of Arrowfield's breeding program, but of the broader Australian thoroughbred industry. His contribution to the sport, measured in champions, premierships, and the people he brought together, will not be forgotten. Yesterday at Seymour, a two-year-old colt trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr became Snitzel's 20th individual juvenile winner for the season, helping to secure his fifth Australian 2YO Sires' Premiership. The colt's name, Job Done, could not have been more fitting. Job done, indeed!
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Super stallion Snitzel has died aged 23 leaving behind a remarkable legacy on world thoroughbred racing
Arrowfield Stud's super sire Snitzel, the nation's four-time champion stallion, has died. He was 23. John Messara, Arrowfield's chairman, told News Corp Snitzel passed away just after 11am on Wednesday. 'We are all devastated by what's happened,'' Messara said. 'Snitzel had not been well over the last 12 months with a liver complaint but he has gone downhill rapidly the last few days. I'm still in a state of shock.'' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! A former outstanding sprinter, Snitzel won the 2006 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate before retiring to stud where he forged a deserved reputation as one of the all-time great stallions. Snitzel has sired 23 individual Group 1 winners and more than 150 individual stakes winners including three Golden Slippers, two The Everests, a Cox Plate, two Golden Roses, four Guineas', a Flight Stakes, two Magic Millions 2yo Classics, an Inglis Sires trifecta and most of Australia's feature sprints. The acclaimed stallion's best progeny included Redzel, Lady Shenandoah, Trapeze Artist, Russian Revolution, Shamus Award, Snitzerland, Switzerland, Wild Ruler, Sweet Idea, Estijaab and Marhoona. Boasting more than 1600 race wins as a sire, his progeny won just $273 million in stakes. Snitzel was a four-time Australian Champion Sire, four-time Champion 2YO Sire, two-time Champion 3YO Sire, and five Inglis Easter sale-toppers and 71 yearlings that have sold for $1 million or more. The super stallion has averaged 24 stakes wins every season for a decade and at the southern hemisphere's premier yearling sale, Inglis Australian Easter Sale, he had seven $1 million-plus lots, including a $2.7 million full brother to Switzerland for a sale-high average of $708,000 for his 32 yearlings. Snitzel, like his sire and former Arrowfield great Redoute's Choice, is creating his own legacy with 17 stakes-siring sons and his broodmare daughters are already the source of 46 stakes winners. The great Snitzel is currently fourth on the Australian Champion Sires rankings for 2024-25 with more than $20.7 million but is also the leading sire for individual stakes winners and stakes wins. There was a real poignancy to Snitzel's last winner before his death – a two-year-old first starter at Seymour on Monday called 'Job Done'.
News.com.au
19-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Bookies can't split Lady Shenandoah and Autumn Glow as spring markets are revealed
Who is the better three-year-old filly – Autumn Glow or Lady Shenandoah? It's a debate that has raged for months with opinions evenly divided after both of trainer Chris Waller 's star fillies completed perfect seasons. Even the bookies are having trouble separating them with TAB Fixed Odds price assessors rating Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah as equal favourites for some of the biggest races of the spring. TAB is today opening betting on many of the major spring carnival races and have Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah sharing favouritism at $6 for the Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap and $4.50 for the $10 million Golden Eagle. Another of Waller's outstanding fillies, the runaway ATC Australian Derby winner Aeliana, is on the second line of Epsom betting at $8 and fourth favourite for the Golden Eagle at $11. The release of the TAB markets is timely as both Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah returned to pre-training on Monday. Autumn Glow's owner John Messara said it was too early to lock in her spring program but confirmed the Epsom Handicap and Golden Eagle were likely targets. 'We have all our options open but at this stage the first Group 1 for Autumn Glow is likely to be the Epsom Handicap,'' Messara said. 'There is also the Golden Eagle to consider but it all depends on Autumn Glow and what Chris thinks is best for her. 'She has spelled really well, she's physically bigger and stronger now, and it's exciting to think what she could do in the spring.'' Autumn Glow is unbeaten in four starts including the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes and Listed Darby Munro Stakes. ðŸ�‚ Autumn Glow proves she’s the real deal and wins the G2 Tea Rose Stakes at just her third start and remains unbeaten! @cwallerracing | @mcacajamez — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 21, 2024 She was the hot favourite for the Group 1 Flight Stakes last spring only to be withdrawn on race-eve with a minor injury. In her absence, Lady Shenandoah won the Flight Stakes in a canter by more than three lengths. Lady Shenandoah trained on to win two more Group 1 races, the Surround Stakes and Coolmore Classic, to complete her five-start unbeaten three-year-old season. Make way for the lady! Lady Shenandoah makes a mess of the G1 Flight Stakes with a dominant win for @ZacLloydx and @cwallerracing! @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 5, 2024 Timeform ratings have Lady Shenandoah and Aeliana as the top fillies this season with peak 119 figures ahead of Autumn Glow at 117 and dual Oaks winner Treasurethe Moment on 115. TAB is opening big-race markets on a number of the spring carnival features including the Golden Rose, King Charles III Stakes, The Metropolitan, Flight Stakes, Coolmore Stud Stakes, Champions Stakes, Champions Mile, Champions Sprint and The Kosciuszko. Godolphin filly Tempted is the $4.50 Flight Stakes favourite with Golden Slipper winner Marhoona at $6 while the past two King Charles III Stakes winners, Fangirl and Ceolwulf, are at $4.50 and $6 respectively for a repeat success.
