| Outstanding mare Snapdancer added another Group One to her impressive record when she scored a dominant win in today’s $1 million Magic Millions Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. |
| Facing the starter for the first time since a gallant second in the Tattersall’s Tiara in Brisbane in June, Snapdancer proved too classy for her rivals with a brilliant on speed success. Regular rider Ethan Brown was able to cross early in the race and from there they controlled the feature and despite late challenges, the win was soft with Brown easing over the final stages. The win was the second in a seven figure race following her Magic Millions Fillies & Mares victory in January. In between there was a Group One Robert Sangster Stakes and a Group Three Triscay. “I couldn’t have been happier with her,” co-trainer Ciaron Maher said. “Her work here on Tuesday was super. All the team have done a fantastic job. This horse has basically been in work since October last year.” “Ethan Brown is a real emerging jockey. He’s a great lad to have around the stable – it’s fantastic for him and also (syndicator) Brad Spicer, he seems to keep finding them.” “There’s a great group of owners, it’s a great result and there’s now a lot of different options for her. If she does nothing more this prep she has already achieved so much this year. She’s just going from strength to strength and I think she’ll get better again.” “As a two and three-year-old I said (to connections) that she’d be better at four and five and I think she still is developing – the sky’s the limit,” Maher added. The win was the second at Group One level for both Snapdancer and her rider, Alice Springs’ Ethan Brown. “She is taking me on the ride of my life,” Brown told Racing.com after the race. “She’s just so easy to ride. Her racing style makes her so much easier.” “She jumped so well and established a lead and switched off when I asked her to. Tactically I wanted to use her residual fitness, knowing most of the other horses were first up.” “I thought she was really impressive,” Brown added. “She keeps raising the bar – it’s onwards and upwards for her.” Snapdancer has become an incredible investment for her connections after being purchased by Brad Spicer in partnership from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Already she has earned over $2 million from just 20 runs and has immense residual value as a multiple Group One winner. She is one of 102 individual stakes winners for her sire, former globe trotting sprint sensation Choisir. Her dam, the Galileo mare Snapdragon, raced just twice but has done a fine job at stud with six winners including fellow stakes performer Drago. Her other progeny includes Singapore’s Texan Takeover, Hong Kong sprinter Great Manner and New Zealand based Sacred Charm. Snapdragon in turn is from a stakes performed Darshaan half sister to Italian Derby winner In a Tiff and two other international group winners. Snapdancer’s win in the Memsie Stakes made it three from three for Magic Millions sold yearling graduates in the first Melbourne Group One of the season since becoming the race sponsor. Today’s success following on from Behemoth’s back to back wins in 2020 and 2021. Winner: Snapdancer Breeding: Choisir-Snapdragon (Galileo) Breeder: Katom Race: MRC Magic Millions Memsie Stakes G1 (1400m) Sold for: $180,000 Sale: 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Vendor: Sledmere Stud (As Agent) Buyer: Spicer Thoroughbreds/Darren Weir Racing Earnings: $2,022,570 Owners: B Spicer, Brut Racing 1 (Mgr: L Barker), G Palatinus, Ms A Barabas, B Sokolski, P Blundell, B Felstead, Brut Racing 2 (Mgr: L Barker), S Wootten, Z Angelovski, M Sparkes, Mrs K Sparkes, B Healy, A Dowie, T Healy, E Clarke, Mrs R Clarke & M Lasky Trainer(s): Ciaron Maher & David Eustace (Ballarat) |
