The Group II VRC Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday produced a quinella for Arrowfield Stud’s champion sire Snitzel with five year-old stallion Splintex proving a little too strong for classy mare Away Game.
Winner of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, four year-old Away Game is never an easy horse to get past, but under the urgings of Craig Williams, the Mark Newnham trained Splintex kept his head in front to win by half a neck.
A multiple Group winner that has now won over $1.1million for his owner breeders Geoff and Mary Grimish, Splintex has the overall record of seven wins from 20 starts.
“I spoke to Mark Newnham this morning and he said he's very uncomplicated. He said 'you'll enjoy riding him',” said Williams.
"He's been been under the care of Nick Ryan and he said he's just such a lovely horse to have. He just went straight into his tucker.
"We got a nice cart into the race. He did get off-stride a couple of times and change legs. When the pressure was on and we have a horse like Away Game chasing us with 53 kilos on her back, he really did want the win and he deserved because he really stuck his head out and she's no easy competition, that's for sure."
Splintex is a half-brother to stakes-winner Invictus Salute and stakes-placed Acqume being the best of four winners from Group II placed O’Reilly mare Acquired, a half-sister to Group II winning stakes producer Hips Don’t Lie.
Acquired has a yearling colt by The Autumn Sun and was covered last spring by Snitzel, who had two stakes-winners on Saturday with Mr Mozart taking out the Listed VRC Exford Plate, read about him here.
