The Snitzel phenomenon knows no bounds and its West Australian branch has been enhanced with the arrival of Splintex at Darling View Thoroughbreds in Mundijong.
Splintex holds a special place in Snitzel’s ongoing quest for excellence that has harvested multiple Australian Sires Premierships (4) and Australian 2YO Sires Premierships (3).
When Splintex won the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April 2020, he became the 100th Stakes winner by Snitzel. “He doesn’t win these big races by big margins but he’s brave and genuine and that’s what counts,” trainer Mark Newnham declared. “He performs whether it’s wet or dry and he’s the type of horse that can make a very nice stallion.”
It was appropriate that Splintex claimed the Snitzel milestone in the Arrowfield Sprint because Snitzel has been based at the leading Hunter Valley Stud since his retirement in 2006. He initially stood for a $33,000 service fee before it spiralled to $220,000.
That’s been a cost-effective price for breeders who support the Arrowfield superstar with 44 million-dollar yearling graduates to date. There were ten millionaires this year and the market’s verdict was loud and clear with an overall average of $526,000 for 79 lots sold.
This is the ‘Age of Snitzel’ and now his sire-sons are making an impact.
Victoria’s Group 1 Cox Plate winner Shamus Award will finish Top 5 on the 2021-22 Australian Sires’ Premiership and among his Group 1 winners this season is El Patroness (ATC Australian Oaks) who is bred on the same O’Reilly (NZ) cross as Splintex.
Boom Newgate Farm resident Russian Revolution will be crowned Australia’s Champion first-season sire on Sunday week with earnings over $1.81 million. He will also win the first-season individual winners title with 14 underlined by Revolutionary Miss (G2 Blue Diamond Prelude) and Rise Of The Masses (G3 Pago Pago Stakes).
Queensland-based Aquis Farm freshmen Invader (6 winners) and Jukebox (4 winners) have also started their stud careers in promising style this season and they will fill the breech left by Snitzel’s ill-fated Aquis Farm Champion Spill The Beans who led the 2019-20 first-season premierships for winners (13) and wins (22).
Those statistics confirm the remarks of Mark Newnham when Splintex left his Warwick Farm stables for WA earlier this year. “When you go to the yearling sales you go there to buy a winning racehorse. If Splintex can throw his ability and will to win into his stock, trainers will love them.”
Darling View Thoroughbreds stud manager Brent Atwell reiterated those comments.
“He’s a son of Snitzel who raced in Group and Listed company in 18 of his 24 starts and he’s letting down into a magnificent stallion. Splintex was an extremely sound, clean-winded horse and if it’s performance, pedigree and physique you’re after – Splintex has it covered in spades.”
Darling View Thoroughbreds will stand Splintex for an introductory service fee of $11,000 (inc GST). He will parade alongside Leading Active Stallion Playing God, Patronize & Lucky Street on Sunday, August 7 commencing at 11.30am.
Splintex has already impressed breeders like Greg Edwards who booked in his G1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) winner Kay Cee following an initial inspection at the Mundijong stud. For bookings or further information, contact Brent Atwell on 0408 648 100 or brent@darlingviewthoroughbreds.com.au
