Hugh Bowman recorded his fourth win in the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) when then tenacious Hot Snitzel set a new race record in defeating the top-class Manawanui.
Given a positive ride by Bowman, Hot Snitzel sat on the early speed set by the highly regarded Victorian Moment Of Change with the favourite Manawanui stalking both in third.
Moment Of Change gave a kick
on the turn but Hot Snitzel was up to the task and as he fought off one challenger
he had another coming on his outside. In a driving finsih Hot Snitzel held
Manawanui by long-head with Moment Of Change one and three-quarters of a length
back in third.
Hot Snitzel takes his overall record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from12 starts for earnings of $631,100.
Last season at two, Hot Snitzel won the Group 2 QTC Sires' Produce Stakes and a Listed race at the Gold Coast and was beaten into second place by Benfica in the Group 1 TJ Smith at Eagle Farm.
On his seasonal debut at three, Hot Snitzel won the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in October before finishing sixth beaten 2.2 lengths in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes won by Sepoy.
Trainer Gerald Ryan was not getting carried away by the victory but was full of admiration for the chestnut.
"A good gutsy win but that's what I've come to expect from him," Ryan said. "He's not top class but he's a gutsy horse.
"I think the only time he has not finished in the first four was in the Golden Slipper.
"He's come up bigger and stronger each time. We'll keep placing him in races we think he can win and he'll keep running well."
"Hugie said he trialled sensationally the other day and reckons it was the best he had ever trialled and we went out there with the idea of making a fight,"
Ryan said there had been no decision on where Hot Snitzel would make his next start
"I'll have a look at the calendar and see what's around".
Hot Snitzel was a $60,000 purchase for Triple Crown Syndications from the draft of Bellerive Stud at the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
He is the ninth foal of the unraced Blushing Groom mare, Flames Of Paris (USA), a half sister to Irish Oaks (G1) winner Alydaress, Moyglare Stakes (G1) winner Park Appeal, and Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) winner Desirable.
Another half-sister Balistroika produced the 1000 Guineas (G1) heroine Russian Rhythm while Park Appeal is the dam of Group 1 winner and successful sire Cape Cross and the granddam of young stallion Iffraaj.
Desirable is the dam of 1000 Guineas (G1) winner in Shadayid.
The 20-year old Flames Of Paris is now pensioned and Hot Snitzel is her final foal.
