Snipillicious has returned from an injury-enforced spell to qualify for the $100,000 Westspeed Platinum Autumn Final (1200m) at Ascot on April 23.
The Snippetson sprinter sat in the box-seat behind Sioux City in a Heat of the Autumn Series last Saturday and was untroubled to score by more than a length over 1000m. “He looked the winner on the turn and Clint (Johnston-Porter) was able to ease up before the line,” trainer Adam Durrant said. “He’s durable and honest and can earn his stripes this time in.”
Snipillicious (4g Snippetson – Foxalicious by Due Sasso) was all set to make an impact earlier this season but a stable accident saw him sidelined for three months. “He won a Saturday race first-up at Belmont and I was impressed because it was a big upgrade on his previous prep.
“But then he somehow swung around in his box and was unable to put any weight on a hind-leg. It was nothing too serious but we had to let nature take its course and then start again where we left off.”
Johnston-Porter went into the race confident off a winning trial at Lark Hill. “We were in a good spot and he never felt like getting beaten. He settled nicely and I can’t see any problems getting out to 1200m in the Final.”
Snipillicious (Photo: Western Racepix) was bred and sold by Scenic Lodge for $26,000 at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions and is the first foal to the races from a mare who won five times over the minimum trip in town for trainers Craig Wright, Ross Price and Stephen Miller.
Durrant also prepares his 3yo full-brother Foxy Son who ran a first-up fourth at Ascot last month. He’s ready to break through as is his unraced 2yo full-sister Praecisio. She cost trainer Russell Stewart $50,000 at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions and looked a nice type winning a Belmont trial on March 14.
Scenic Lodge has a Long Leaf – Foxalicious filly being weaned at Muchea and the mare is back in foal to Snippetson.
Snippetson is bearing down on his 500th individual winner following a maiden double last Saturday with Bay Wave (Victoria) and Bella Sprite (Kalgoorlie). His career stats now stand at 494 individual winners of 1570 races.
His lightly-raced 3yo Featherweight returned to scale after his second win at Ascot for trainer Dan Morton on Thursday. A half-brother to LR Ascot 1000 Guineas winner Like A Butterfly (Blackfriars), he was a $45,000 graduate from Scenic Lodge at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions
