Written by Bren O'Brien
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Sistrum (Snitzel) became his sire's 20th 2-year-old winner of the season with the Arrowfield-Jungle Pocket-bred colt victorious in a competitive 2-year-old maiden at Ballarat on Sunday.
Sistrum, who finished fourth on debut at Moe last month, improved greatly at his second start, surging home to edge out the Danny O'Brien-trained Armed (American Pharoah {USA}) and Greg Eurell-prepared Tauty (Cluster) in a blanket finish in the Evergreen Turf Mdn over 1200 metres.
The strong riding style of Craig Newitt played a major role in the success, as he forced the colt through along a narrow inside run to get the win.
"He's a really nice horse. He's showed us plenty from day dot. He had a really good run the other day in Moe in a race that didn't suit him. The 1000 metres was too sharp for him, but he bounced really well today and put himself in a good spot," Newitt said.
"He got hung up a bit just after straightening, but when the run appeared, he dashed through really well.
Sistrum as a yearling | Image courtesy of Arrowfield Stud
"He handled the ground really nicely and I think that will be a nice form race going forward and I think whatever he does this prep, he's going to be a really nice 3-year-old."
The victory continues a strong run of form for Newitt, who moved permanently back to Victoria around 12 months ago after several years back in his home state of Tasmania. He rode nine winners in June and has now ridden four winners already in July, including a city winner last week on Lindhout (Time For War) at Flemington.
"It's going really good at the moment. I'm getting a few winners and good support, so I'll keep my head down and bum up and keep going," he said.
"It's going really good at the moment. I'm getting a few winners and good support, so I'll keep my head down and bum up and keep going." - Craig Newitt
Sistrum raced in the cream, red and bronze colours of part owners Bruno and Rita Secatore. He was originally slated to sell as part of the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale but was withdrawn like the rest of that draft and was instead sold privately as a yearling.
He is out of imported mare Dream Tiara (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn), from the family of Novara Park Stud stallion Staphanos (Jpn). The extended pedigree includes Group 1 winner and late stallion Poet's Voice (GB) and Group 1 winner and G1 Caufield S. runner-up Blair House (GB) (Pivotal {GB})
His sister, Smokin' Crazy (Snitzel), sold for $300,000 to Andrew Williams Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year while Dream Tiara produced another Snitzel filly last year before visiting another Arrowfield Stud resident in The Autumn Sun.
Sistrum becomes the first winner by Snitzel out of a mare by Heart's Cry (Jpn), who was recently pensioned from duties at Shadai Stallion Station.
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young
The win sees Snitzel edge two clear of Capitalist (18) in the race to be crowned the leading 2-year-old sire by Australian winners for the 2020/21 season. It is the third consecutive season that Snitzel has had 20 or more Australian 2-year-old winners, having had a sire-topping 28 last season and 23 the season before.
Snitzel's current 2-year-old crop is headlined by New Zealand Group 1 winner Sword Of State as well as G2 Sweet Embrace S. winner Four Moves Ahead and recent Listed winner Royalzel.
