Snap Dances Her Way To Gr1 Glory

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Wow! Our girl Snapdancer has risen to the next level, stamping herself as the best sprinting mare in the country after blitzing her rivals in the Gr1 Sangster Stakes at Morphetville today.

 

After an out of character performance in The Newmarket, we were hopeful it was just a blip and we were rapt to be proven right. It seems Snapdancer needs a rail to follow and after drawing the outside gate in this race we had our fingers, toes and even our eyelashes crossed she could offset that with a good start. Thankfully she flew the gates and was able to cross to the plastic without too much trouble. Talented young hoop, Ethan Brown kept her in a beautiful rhythm and with her high cruising speed she strung the field out.

 

She was going better than anything in the run and using the kick off the turn she got some separation from those chasing. Stablemate, Away Game looked the only threat but that was only fleeting as the 5yo daughter of Choisir gave a solid kick and raced clear to score a convincing win. It was her 2nd victory at Group level having secured the Gr3 Triscay Stakes at Randwick two starts ago. The start prior she had taken out the Magic Millions F & M race at the Gold Coast netting over $500k for her owners. This Gr1 success brought her earnings up to $1.3mil and has added tremendous value to her as a broodmare. She was a $180k purchase as a yearling and we weren’t leaving the sale without her!

 

The win was a real credit to the Maher- Eustace team who have done a superb job considering how much travelling she has done since being up for such a long time. It was also fantastic to see Ethan Brown score his first Gr1 win and we’re thankful he rode such a pretty race on her. She is raced by a great group of owners, among them AFL legend and media personality, Jonathan Brown.

 

We plan to giver her a little breather then head to Queensland for the Tatts Tiara to hopefully make it 2 in a row at the top level.

 

Gallant 2nd by Snapdancer in Gr1 Tatt’s Tiara

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After her brilliant victory in the Sangster Stakes at Group 1 level last start in Adelaide, our beautiful mare, Snapdancer headed on another journey, thisa return to Queensland to compete in the Gr1 Tatt’s Tiara. Unfortunately our camp had to settle for 2nd but what a run our girl put in. Would you believe it she drew outside again, this time 17 of 17. She showed her customary zing out of the gates and Ethan Brown scorched across the field but unable to cross Annavisto who was hellbent on leading.

 

Ethan was left no option but to sit outside the leader without cover and tried to control the race from there. In the run home she gave an almighty burst as Annavisto capitulated and looked to be going well enough to win. Unfortunately the early effort and having to do it at both ends told and she was jagged late by the fast finishing Startantes. She lost no admirers running a brave race and no doubt had she drawn a gate the result would have been different.

 

She is a marvellous mare who really stepped up this prep winning the Magic Millions, Sangster and that impressive second in the Tatt’s Tiara amassing over $1mil in 6 starts for the prep.

 

Our plan is to give her a well earned rest then we will target the early Spring stepping out in the Gr1 Memsie where we hope to be at peak fitness to catch some of the stayers napping when they resume.

 

She will also head back to defend her Magic Millions and Sangster triumph in what could be the last 12 months we see her in the race track with her career as a mum waiting in the wings.

 

It’s Classified Bounces back To Score

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4yo mare It’s Classified scored her 2nd career victory in emphatic fashion at a very cold and wet Warrnambool today.

 

Forced to take a 3 month break due to a bleeding ban at Moonee Valley, she showed she was working up to a win in her return with placings at her first 2 stars back and she duly saluted with the fitness under her belt.

 

The big question mark was the Heavy 10 but punters had faith and sent her out $2.70 fav. They were rewarded with the well named daughter of Press Statement relishing the slop on her home deck. She jumped positively and was up sharing the lead without much pressure on. When they swung for home, jockey Jarrod Fry was yet to ask for an effort and when he finally pressed go she responded gamely and forged away to score impressively.

 

It’s Classified has been a very consistent horse- only out of the money 3 times in her short career to date. Today she showed Lindsey Smith she could be a Metro class horse when she can put it all together eventually. She is raced by a wonderful group of owners from all over Australia which includes members of the Thoroughbred Club here in Victoria.

 

She is bred to get out over further so it will be interesting to see her progress as she gets some more maturity under her bel and more miles in her legs.

 

It’s Classified ridden by Jarrod Fry wins the Evergreen Turf BM58 Handicap at Warrnambool Racecourse on July 18, 2022 in Warrnambool, Australia. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

ESSENDON HEROES SCORE A PRE-SEASON VICTORY

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MM graduate snaps at $1M for Spicer Thoroughbreds owners

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Snapdancer gave her vast array of owners a day to remember at the Gold Coast on Magic Millions race day boosting her career stake earnings to just shy of $1 million when triumphant in the MM Snippets.

Invoking scenes of unbridled joy in the winner’s enclosure with part-owners jumping up and down while embracing one another, Snapdancer’s victory was never in doubt. Settling close to the lead until balancing up in the home straight and opening up a commanding break.

It was a day of atonement for connections, who 12 months earlier looked on in dismay as Snapdancer got out of her ground, only to charge home for third – only a half-length behind subsequent Group 1 winner Krone.

Trainer Ciaron Maher had been haunted by the defeat a year earlier and despite her not having registered a win in the ensuing period was confident Snapdancer was in peak condition for the 1300 metre sprint for fillies znd mares.

Ridden by James McDonald, Snapdancer posted an official winning margin of 1.75 lengths over Vulpine with Kiku in third place.

Registering her fourth win and her tenth top-three finish from 15 starts, the five-year-old daughter of Choisir pocketed the $587,550 winner’s cheque, bringing her total earnings to $939,800.

Spicer Thoroughbreds boss, Brad Spicer, indicated Snapdancer’s long-term goal would be to return to the Gold Coast to defend her title next year. In the interim, the Group 3 placegetter will endeavour to enhance her black type record.

Aspen Colorado Wins at Casterton

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THREE IN A ROW FOR ‘RUDY’ – TESTAMENT TO SPICER’S EUROPEAN YEARLING PROJECT

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An exciting back half of the current racing season awaits lightly-raced northern hemisphere five-year-old Rudhyar, who stretched his winning sequence to three at Warrnambool’s meeting that was transferred to Coleraine on August 5.

Having just his fifth start, Rudhyar continued his progression through the grades by overcoming negatives to emerge an authoritative winner of a Bench Mark 70 event.

As Spicer Thoroughbreds prepares to make another foray into the European yearling market, Brad Spicer continues to be delighted with Rudhyar and Fueurmond, the first pair speculated upon in 2018. Trainer Lindsey Smith has brought them along patiently for a combined tally of six wins.

Smith is keen to stretch Rudhyar out to 2400m, but missing a race due to a distance change forced the trainer’s hand to saddle up at the tight Coleraine circuit when Warrnambool was deemed too wet.

“I didn’t think Coleraine would suit him but he needed the run and he will have another start before he is turned out for the spring,” Smith said.

“I think he’s time is early next year. He’s still immature and we’ll let him develop.”

Depending on the speed of his development, the Adelaide Cup in March or the Warrnambool Cup in May could loom large on Rudhyar’s program.

Internationally-regarded jockey Brett Prebble has forged an association with Smith and Spicer in recent months. Prebble travels to the south western district tracks to ride Smith’s horses in trials and has developed an affinity with the imported gallopers that grew up on Australian soil and acclimatised to our conditions.

“Rudhyar is a really nice horse, a progressive horse and he is going to make a really nice stayer,” Prebble said, adding the manner of the performance suggested it may be the makings of the horse.

“He will certainly be more street smart for it. He had to really earn his position on the home turn and really want it.

“He still floated all the way up the straight, never opened up at all. He’s still got a lot left under the bonnett. I haven’t felt it and you haven’t seen it. In six-months’ time he could be a horse we all know about.”

Smith is happy with the class of 2019 yearlings that are close to racing and believes it is only a matter of time before Spicer Thoroughbreds and the Smith stable enjoy feature success.

“Brad has got a good eye and he’s already had 10 Group 1 wins … hopefully the next Group 1 winner is in my yard,” Smith said.

Those wishing to learn more about the up-coming plans to purchase yearlings in Europe, contact Spicer Thoroughbreds for more details.