Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Written by Georgie Dennis
Remarque (Snitzel) looks set to follow in the footsteps of his G1 Golden Slipper S.-winning sister Estijaab after posting an impressive victory on debut at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trained by Team Hawkes and bred and raced by Arrowfield Stud and Katsumi Yoshida, Remarque started as the short-priced favourite off the back of two impressive trial victories.
He jumped from a wide barrier (eight) with Tommy Berry in the saddle and was made to work to get across the field and sit just outside the leader. To the colt’s credit, once he got into the spot Berry was aiming for, he relaxed nicely before accelerating at the top of the straight and kicking clear of the field.
His lack of experience showed as he shied away from the screens on the inside of the track but class got him over the line and he won by 2l.
Godolphin filly Zethus (Exceed And Excel) finished off well, coming from back in the field to score second, while Sing A Love Song (Your Song) was another 1.8l away in third.
“It was a lovely effort first time out, he had to do it both ends,” Michael Hawkes said.
“He probably got to the front too soon, the leader dropped off so he had to do all the donkey work. He wanted to shy at the signboards but he is a horse with a lot of talent and you can’t ask for more from a horse on debut.
“He had two good trials but trials are completely different to race day. There is a lot of hype on the horse but today was more about getting the horse in the right frame of mind.
“There is a lot of hype on the horse but today was more about getting the horse in the right frame of mind." - Michael Hawkes
“He has a lot of upside. He is a beautiful colt, very relaxed and paraded well.”
Berry was also impressed by the colt’s performance and believes he will only benefit for his first experience at the races.
Remarque and jockey Tommy Berry | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He did everything right up until the straight. He jumped well but I had to use him up in the first half,” Berry said.
“I was quite pleased the way he relaxed when I asked him to, he came back underneath me and we got an easy sectional before the home turn.
“I got to the lead too easily, too early. When he saw the big screen on the inside he got a little bit lost but that just showed he has plenty of upside. Hopefully he can draw a gate next time and ride him from behind because we know he is much better doing that.
“When he saw the big screen on the inside he got a little bit lost but that just showed he has plenty of upside." - Tommy Berry
“He has such a big set of lungs. When he pulled up he was hardly blowing.”
Bred by Arrowfield, Remarque is the fifth foal to race out of dual Group 1 winner Response (Charge Forward), who is the dam of Estijaab and the stakes-placed Alter Call (Fastnet Rock).
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Out of G1 Flight S. runner-up Live It Up (Match Winner {Fr}), Response is also a half-sister to Disco Girl (Marauding {NZ}), who is the dam of Group 2 winner Returntosender (Elusive City {USA}).
Since foaling Remarque, Response has a colt foal by Snitzel and was again served by Arrowfield’s champion sire in November last year.
