Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
The G1 Newmarket H., the richest sprint contest of the Melbourne autumn, is a race that continues to churn out elite stallion prospects.
It has helped launch the stud careers of the likes of Bivouac, Brazen Beau and breed-shaping stallion Exceed And Excel, all of whom now stand at Darley, since the turn of the century, while 2013 winner Shamexpress (NZ) and 2010 winner Wanted, both of whom have sired a Group 1 winner of their own, stand at stud in New Zealand and Queensland respectively.
Three-year-olds also boast an enviable record in the straight-track showpiece having won five renewals since 2010, including back-to-back renewals in 2019 and 2020 courtesy of star filly Sunlight (Zoustar), who later sold for an eye-watering $4.2 million as a broodmare prospect, and the aforementioned Bivouac, who stood at Darley’s Kelvinside property for a fee of $66,000 (inc GST) last year.
Sunlight | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The above statistics will come as welcome news for the connections of Lofty Strike (Snitzel) - one of only two colts in the field for Saturday’s Flemington feature alongside Buenos Noches (Supido) - who undoubtedly has the credentials to become the Newmarket’s latest stallion success story.
By Arrowfield Stud’s four-time Champion Sire Snitzel, Lofty Strike is out of Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Overreach (Exceed And Excel), who landed the G1 Golden Slipper S. during her glittering juvenile season. Overreach herself is a sibling to no less than three stallions in the shape of Corumbene Stud’s Standout, Widden Stud stallion Outreach and the late Reward For Effort, who sired 11 stakes winners prior to his passing in 2021.
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
With proven Group 1 ability to match his regal pedigree, it is no surprise that Lofty Strike is one of the market principles for Saturday’s Newmarket H., and Sandhu revealed that the son of Snitzel has already attracted the attention of potential stallion suitors.
“There’s plenty of studs interested in him, understandably,” he said.
“He’s a blue-blooded colt, his pedigree page is outstanding and once you get to this level of racing he’s always going to command a lot of interest.
“It has started now and I'm sure that he’s only going to get more popular if we can put a Group 1 beside his name.”
Julius Sandhu
That is exactly what Lofty Strike’s connections are trying to do on Saturday, with the G1 Newmarket H. set to be his fourth shot at the elite level from just eight career starts.
Lofty Strike came closer than ever to securing that elusive Group 1 win last start when beaten less than a length into second in the G1 Oakleigh Plate, and Sandhu is optimistic that a slight change of luck could see him first past the post in Saturday’s stallion-making contest.
“His run in the Rubiton was exceptional and he did everything but win in the Oakleigh Plate,” he said.
“Take nothing away from the winner of the Oakleigh Plate, he’s a very smart horse and was given a peach of a ride by Bennie (Thompson, jockey), but we got shuffled a pair or two further back than we’d have liked to be when he got squeezed coming out of the gates.
“He gave the winner a head start and then ran home some seriously good sectionals, but that’s racing.
“He’s come through both of those races in fine fettle, he has a lovely barrier (12) and he’s surrounded by a few horses that I think will probably give him a bit of a cart into the race.
“You need an ounce of luck in races like this, but if ever I’ve come across a racehorse that deserves to win a Group 1, it’s him.”
Effusive praise
Lofty Strike may not have tasted Group 1 glory yet, but there is no doubt in Sandhu’s mind that he has a generational talent on his hands.
The Cranbourne-based trainer is effusive in his praise for the colt, who was picked up by his owners Lofty Thoroughbred Group for $280,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021.
Lofty Strike as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He’s a once-in-a-lifetime animal this bloke,” Sandhu said. “He oozes class and quality on so many levels. He’s very sharp and he’s got a great turn of foot.
“You get good horses and there are plenty of them around, but to have the holistic class that this bloke has got, they are few and far between.
“His last campaign he ran some very good races, even though he didn’t win them. He ran half a length behind Nature Strip and I think he’s a three-length better horse now than he was then.
“You get good horses and there are plenty of them around, but to have the holistic class that this bloke (Lofty Strike) has got, they are few and far between.” - Julius Sandhu
“I think he’s a seriously, seriously good horse and if he can continue racing and can stay sound, it wouldn’t surprise me if he has a couple or even more Group 1 races to his name by the end of his racing career.”
To complement his impressive speed and blue-blooded pedigree, Lofty Strike also possesses the demeanour of a horse twice his age, something which Sandhu feels is what sets him apart from any of the other elite colts that he has been associated with throughout his career in racing.
“His temperament is outstanding, he is one of the most mentally-strong 3-year-olds I’ve ever had anything to do with,” he added.
Craig Newitt aboard Lofty Strike after winning the G2 Rubiton S. | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He makes things easy for himself because he’s that relaxed. He goes about everything with the kind of professionalism that you would see from a five or 6-year-old gelding that’s been to the races 50 times.
“You can’t buy that stuff, they either have it or they don’t, and he does."
Further afield
Lofty Strike’s excellent temperament would undoubtedly be a huge advantage for Sandhu and his team should connections decide to embark on an overseas venture with the colt, something which remains a real possibility and is set to be discussed after his principal autumn carnival targets are out of the way, according to his trainer.
“The priority at this point in time is to try and get him a Group 1, for more reasons than one - A, because he deserves it and B, because it’s important for his future at stud,” Sandhu said.
“If we can get that ticked off between now and the T J Smith in Sydney, I think that opens up the thought process of what lies ahead.
“These two races (Newmarket and TJ Smith) are the priority, then you have Hong Kong as a possibility, Ascot as a possibility, Perth as a possibility - There’s plenty of interest in him to go over and run in The Quokka.
“There are multiple options to consider, and they will only ever be considered if he pulls up well. The horse will always be the number one priority.”
“There are multiple options to consider, and they will only ever be considered if he pulls up well. The horse will always be the number one priority.” - Julius Sandhu
Lofty Strike’s wellbeing has always been at the forefront of Sandhu’s mind, and was the main reason behind the decision to spell him after he was scratched on the eve of the G1 Blue Diamond S. when second-favourite for the juvenile feature.
It hasn’t been plain sailing for the lightly-raced colt thereafter, and Sandhu is full of admiration for the way in which his stable star has responded to a number of setbacks.
“He’s been through a fair amount of ups and downs in his short racing career and he’s taken it all on the chin,” he said.
“I can think of so many horses that would have thrown in the towel by now and said this is all too hard, but he’s bounced back every time adversity has come his way.
“He’s improved from every single campaign I’ve had him. He’s got bigger, stronger and better.
“It’s been a long and winding journey for him and he’s gone through a lot, so he deserves a Group 1 win more than anyone.”
