Snitzanova clings to victory in Group 3 Spring Stakes
The Ciaron Maher-trained Snitzanova ($7.00) has sustained a tough run in transit to claim victory in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.
The daughter of Snitzel did it the hard way in the $250,000 feature, with Dylan Browne McMonagle forced to sit three-wide without cover for the majority of the 1600m journey.
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained The Three Hundred ($4.00) was sent forward to set a genuine tempo early, with Titanium Miss ($18.00) sitting to his outside, forcing McMonagle to travel wide on the bridal in the middle stages.
French Ruler ($6.50) missed the start under Nash Rawiller, eventually making significant inroads along the inside running rail, while well-supported $2.80 favourite with Playup, Alabama Express, was given every chance stalking the hot tempo.
Snitzanova gave a strong kicked when asked for the ultimate effort, however, would need to fend off the fast-finishing French Ruler.
The pair sat down to battle it out, with McMonagle throwing Snitzanova over the line to claim his first Australian feature since arrive down under.
2024 Group 3 Spring Stakes Replay – Snitzanova
It was a hefty task for the progressive three-year-old having only broken her maiden last time out, but stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord always had confidence with McMonagle in the saddle.
“He’s Joseph O’Brien’s number one jockey, he’s very good,” said Gerard-Dubord.
“He enjoyed his time last year and had a lot of success. He came back this time and is based in Sydney and I think it’s the right time for him to be here.
“He’s a very hard worker, he’s very talented, and it’s good for him to win a stakes race and his first win this time back.
“Great to get that filly to win.
“She’s very lightly raced, she’s a really great filly, and it’s great to get a win for Bennett Racing, they’re great supporters.
“First start at Rosehill she did a lot wrong. She learnt a lot from that and her win on the Kensington (Randwick) track was very good.
“Obviously it’s a big step up to stakes company, but it probably wasn’t as strong as stakes company.
“She had to do it tough. She was wide, but Dylan didn’t panic, just kept her comfortable, got into a nice rhythm, and she was too tough late.”
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