Global racing and breeding giant Coolmore has purchased a majority stake in elite juvenile and G1 Golden Slipper S. runner-up Best Of Bordeaux (Snitzel).
And according to highly respected bloodstock agent Julian Blaxland, who knows plenty about the caper having worked in the industry for more than 25 years, Coolmore will reap the rewards for many years to come, confident the Snitzel colt has the makings of a great stallion.
Julian Blaxland | Image courtesy of Inglis
By Arrowfield's four-time Champion Sire Snitzel and from three-time winner Chateau Cheval (High Chaparral {Ire}), Best Of Bordeaux enjoyed a wonderful juvenile campaign that yielded two wins and a second from his three starts.
He posted a dominant victory in the G3 Canonbury S. at Rosehill in January by 4.8l, before enhancing his Golden Slipper S. credentials when winning the G2 Silver Slipper S. in February beating $2.5 million colt Magic (Snitzel).
Best Of Bordeaux was confronted with a Heavy track for the first time in the G1 Golden Slipper S. Jumping from barrier seven under Sam Clipperton, he rode the speed, before being overhauled by the smart filly Fireburn (Rebel Dane) in a gutsy effort. Clipperton described the race as ‘frustrating’, but was proud of the performance of the colt, stating he has all the makings of a 'top 3-year-old'.
Best Of Bordeaux winning the G3 Canonbury S. | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Best Of Bordeaux is currently spelling at Newington Farm (in Queensland), which Blaxland owns alongside the colt’s trainer and part-owner, wife Kacy Fogden.
“He’s just a gorgeous horse, he’s got a beautiful temperament. He wouldn’t have a mean bone in his body, he’s a very kind horse. He eats, sleeps and goes about his business; that’s the mark of a good horse,” he told TDN AusNZ.
“He’s (Best Of Bordeaux) just a gorgeous horse, he’s got a beautiful temperament... He eats, sleeps and goes about his business; that’s the mark of a good horse." - Julian Blaxland
“It’s a very Australian pedigree, and when you mix that with Snitzel, one of the best two or three stallions in the country, it certainly makes him an exciting prospect.”
Early juvenile speed
Bred and part-owned by Gerry Harvey, Best Of Bordeaux realised $425,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when purchased by Fogden, who races him in partnership with the Fung Family Racing and Harvey.
“You can look at yearlings at the sale and hope that they’ll be early… this horse had genuine precocity and he beat the best colts in Australia,” Blaxland explained.
Best Of Bordeaux pictured at Newington Farm while spelling | Image courtesy of Newington Farm
“M.V. Magnier called me from Dubai when he heard there was an opportunity to buy into the horse. The Coolmore team came and saw the horse at our farm here at Newington and they made an offer that afternoon.
“They were very aggressive and really wanted to be a part of the horse. It’s testament that they’re going to keep the horse with Kacy, it’s obviously worked so far.”
Fogden will continue to train Best Of Bordeaux, and she told TDN AusNZ she can’t wait to team up with Coolmore.
“It’s very, very exciting; the pressure’s on now,” she quipped.
Kacy Fogden, trainer and part-owner of Best Of Bordeaux | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Fogden believes the ownership group will reap the benefits of Best Of Bordeaux being sent to the paddock after his brave performance in the Slipper.
“I’m pleased we put him out when we did and avoided all of those heavy, heavy tracks," Fogden said.
"When most of those other 2-year-olds were out doing the hard yards, he was out spelling, getting ready for the spring.
“I think the most exciting part is what lies ahead.”
Exciting next preparation
Best Of Bordeaux will continue to spell for a few more weeks before embarking on a spring campaign that will include a number of Group 1 targets.
And while Best Of Bordeaux is blessed with an abundance of natural speed, Fogden believes the colt could get out to a mile.
“We’ll kick him off on a traditional pathway of the Rosebud and San Domenico. Obviously, the Coolmore (Stud S.) and races like that would be on the cards.
“I think he will eventually (get a mile). I think while he’s happy to race the way he is… like Peter Moody says, you’ve got to let fast horses be fast.
“Whether or not that changes and we want to go down the route of 1400 metres to the (G1) Golden Rose, well, that’s an option.”
Blaxland is supremely confident Best Of Bordeaux will be a better horse at three than two, saying he has already benefited from his post-autumn spell.
“He’s got great natural speed, he’s a very clean-winded horse, but he’s not a ready-made product as yet, and I think he’ll really strengthen up and build up physically over the next six and 12 months. I think you’ll really see the best of him in the autumn of next year,” Blaxland remarked.
“He’s (Best Of Bordeaux) got great natural speed, he’s a very clean-winded horse, but he’s not a ready-made product as yet... I think you’ll really see the best of him in the autumn of next year.” - Julian Blaxland
“What’s exciting is he was a very good 2-year-old, but there’s so much scope for him to improve physically. And mature into what he can do at three.
“It’s almost like what he’s done thus far is a bonus.”
The next Snitzel?
Blaxland has selected multiple stakes-winning horses, including the talented sire Beneteau, champion mare Sunlight (Zoustar), as well as Artorius (Flying Artie) and Prompt Response (Beneteau).
He knows a good horse when he sees one.
“We got an insight into Snitzel from Mr Snitzel himself… Best Of Bordeaux was stabled with Gerald Ryan during his autumn campaign. Gerald said to Kacy on a number of occasions, ‘This horse is just a spitting image of Snitzel’.
“And, interestingly, there’s a couple of old staff of Gerald’s who’ve been there for many years and looked after Snitzel; they were doing double takes in the stable and getting selfies with the horse because they said it was the nearest-thing they had seen to Snitzel as a 2-year-old.
"Gerald (Ryan) said to Kacy on a number of occasions, ‘This horse (Best Of Bordeaux) is just a spitting image of Snitzel’." - Julian Blaxland
“It was interesting to hear that from Gerald: we call him the encyclopedia because he remembers most yearlings that he saw at the sales, and how much they made, and what their families are. He’s an enormous wealth of knowledge, Gerald, not just as a trainer, but as a person looking at yearlings and horses. He was really taken with this colt when he was in his stable there.
“Hopefully he does what Snitzel did and goes on at three to win a Group 1; hopefully he wins a couple.”
Blaxland also believes the colt’s pedigree gives him every chance to become a great stallion.
Four-time Champion Sire Snitzel, sire of Best Of Bordeaux | Standing at Arrowfield Stud, image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Best Of Bordeaux’s dam Chateau Cheval is a daughter of the brilliant broodmare Lady Capel, herself a daughter of champion sire Last Tycoon (Ire).
Lady Capel has left four stakes winners for nine stakes wins, including Group 1 winner and successful stallion Casino Prince, Group 3 winner Tagus (Encosta De Lago), as well as Listed winners Metallurgical (Redoute’s Choice) and Lord Of The Land (Timber Country {USA}).
Other close relatives include Group 1 winners Prince Fawaz (Fastnet Rock), Onemorenomore and Green Birdie (NZ) (Catbird).
“It’s a family littered with Group 1 speed and black-type performance,” Blaxland said.
“It’s just a great colonial family. It’s no accident that these horses pop up when they come from these great families and are by great stallions like Snitzel.”
Coolmore's Tom Magnier echoed the excitement of Fogden and Blaxland, telling TDN AusNZ: “We’re delighted to partner up with Kacy Fogden and some great partners with the best 2-year-old colt in the country.
"Best Of Bordeaux is a brilliantly fast and particularly well-bred son of Snitzel, very much in the mould of his sire.
"He has continued to raise the bar each time he has gone to the races and we are looking forward to the spring with him.”
