Regally bred Bennett Racing 3yo filly Snitzanova, delivered at only her 3rd race start what her deep strong International pedigree had promised, with a thrilling win in the Group 3 New Zealand Bloodstock Spring Stks at Newcastle on Saturday. But it wasn’t necessarily the margin that was impressive nor the fact she sat 3 wide most of the journey or how she dug deep, it was also that the filly had made her debut on 2nd October with a handy effort, then progressed to impressively win a 100k Super maiden at Randwick 30th October and 16 days later secured her 1st Group win at her 1st attempt at stakes class. The filly jumped ok pressing forward but then she began to over race, reefing and tearing so Dylan Browne McMonagle attempted to eased her back looking for cover but the filly was having none of that. She is obviously a filly that can travel a bit keenly but she did get into a nice rhythm. Eventually caught three wide the trip, Dylan didn’t panic and kept her where she was comfortable. As the field entered the home bend Snitzanova was wide took over on straightening and battled down the length of the straight but she was too tough late and fought to secure a 0.12-length win. And win she did, challenged strongly, she bravely fought them off and recorded a fantastic win.
Ciaron Maher’s Sydney assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord was trackside to witness the result, “It was very tight, but great to get that filly to win. She’s very lightly raced, she’s a well-bred filly, and great to get a win for Bennett Racing, they’re good supporters.” “She can travel a bit keenly, but she got into a nice rhythm and she was too tough late. Now she’s a stakes winner, she will have a break and I think she will come back a much better horse next prep.”
The Group 3 win took Snitzanova’s overall record to Career: 3 starts, 2 – 0 – 0 $203,000. This is a very important win for Snitzanova as it stamps her as a top class filly going into the Autumn and also gives her the all important Black Type on her pedigree page. She has been very well handled by the Maher Team and looks a top class prospect. The road to Snitzanova’s Group 3 hasn’t been totally smooth sailing though. To get the filly to races has been a massive effort by Ciaron Maher and his Team in particular Declan Maher who worked in conjunction with Francesca Christie CRC Equine together building up and developing the filly after she joined the Maher Stable as a late 2yo.
Now a very valuable Group 3 winning daughter of Champion sire Snitzel and from a deep and very strong Blacktype family, Snitzanova was a 200k purchased from the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale from her breeders Arrowfield Stud. Snitzanova is the fourth winner from five to race for the royally-bred Galileo mare Albanilla (GB), whose dam Altitude (Green Desert) is a half-sister to triple Group 1 winner Alborada, and dual Group 1 winner Alkbanova, the granddam of the English and Irish St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov , Group III MRC Coongy Cup winner Kingswood (GB) and Champion European race mare Alpinista winner of Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe etc.
Interesting also is Snitzanova’s 2yo full sister Hiatus, a $350,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, won at Murray Bridge on debut on October 12. Hiatus is the final foal of Albanilla (GB), who died in October 2023.Snitzanova is also the 152nd stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Champion sire Snitzel.amd will be sent for a spell now with aims at Sydney’s Group 1 fillies races in the Autumn.
Congratulations to all owners in Snitzanova and thankyou to the whole Team at Ciaron Maher Racing for having the filly ready to win a valuable Group 3 with Snitzanova.
Indecently the Group 3 win by Snitzanova was Bennett Racing’s 4th individual Group winner for the season behind Southport Tycoon’s thrilling Group 1 Manikato Stks win, Baraquiel’s dominant Group 2 Mc Ewan Stks win and Fawkner Park’s tough Group 3 Rosehill Gold Cup win.
