Star colt Sizzling will head to the Stradbroke Handicap after bouncing back to his brilliant best in yesterday’s Group Two Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm.
Often a back marker in his races, Sizzling held a more forward position in the Guineas after trainer Kelso Wood elected to add blinkers to his stable star.
“He’s been vindicated,” Wood said after the strong win. “He might have shown a few people up today.”
“I think the blinkers may have made him focus a bit better,” he added.
Winning rider Chris Munce said the three-year-old colt was well and truly on track for next Saturday’s million dollar feature.
“I had faith in the ability of the horse,” Munce said. “I wanted to be a bit more aggressive and make him race with the blinkers on.”
The quality colt has now won seven of his 16 starts and along with his four runner-up placings he’s earned a prizemoney haul of $1,289,250.
The son of Snitzel was purchased by renowned Queensland based bloodstock agent John Foote for $260,000 from the draft of Evergreen Stud Farm, as agent for Milburn Creek Thoroughbreds, at the 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Sizzling is one of 15 stakes winner for the former star Magic Millions graduate Snitzel. His dam is a daughter of another former star Gold Coast purchase, the mighty General Nediym.
That General Nediym mare is Admirelle, a winner at two who earned valuable black type when third in the listed Keith Mackay Handicap in Sydney.
She is dam of two named foals, Sizzling and this season’s juvenile placegetter Trafalgar Miss, a daughter of ill fated sire War Pass.
Snitzel has seven yearlings catalogued for the National Yearling Sale which commences at 10am on Tuesday.
Exciting juvenile Sir Moments booked a berth in next Saturday’s Group One JJ Atkins after a second straight stakes win yesterday.
A son of Choisir, Sir Moments produced a sustained sprint from the top of the straight to reel in his rivals and win the listed Phoenix Stakes impressively.
Trainer Steven O’Dea holds Sir Moments in high regard and expects him to appreciate the extra distance in next week’s feature event.
“He looks ideally suited by the mile next week,” O’Dea told reporters after the win.
“We’ll see how he goes against the top liners. He’s big, leggy and raw and will continue to improve.”
“He should develop into a good three-year-old by next spring,” O’Dea added.
Sir Moments, bred by Gooree Stud, was purchased by Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds for $40,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Widden Stud.
He’s already earned over $150,000 from a few runs and looks to have an extremely bright future for his lucky connections.
Sir Moments is from a twice winning Zabeel half sister to Magsaya, a stakes winning daughter of Choisir’s sire Danehill Dancer.
A half sister by Magic Albert (Lot 1403) to third placegetter Cannyzing will go under the hammer on Tuesday morning during the early stages of the first session of the National Yearling Sale.
Quality Brisbane mare will chase more winter carnival riches after she cruised to victory in yesterday’s listed Spear Chief Handicap at Eagle Farm.
Prepared by Robert Heathcote, Fire Up Fifi was sent out the warm favourite in the feature 1500 metre event and thanks to a copybook ride from Damian Browne the result was never in doubt.
“I think she deserves a crack at a Group One,” Heathcote said when announcing the Tattersall’s Tiara was an immediate target for the star performer.
“It was lovely the way it panned out today. She had barrier one, the track suited and Damian rode her perfectly.”
A $5,500 purchase for owner Graham Billinghurst from the Baraton Stud draft at the 2009 Magic Millions August Thoroughbred Sale, FIre Up Fifi has now won over $325,000.
By Magic Millions Classic winner Bradbury’s Luck, Fire Up Fifi is the headline performer among four winners for the well related and twice winning West by West mare Manicured.
PICS – Dan Costello.
