Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Snitzel Dancer dances to debut success
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Snitzel Dancer (Snitzel) showed professionalism and class to score on debut in the 3-year-old Maiden Handicap over 1250 metres at Canterbury.
Curie (Anders) led with Shangri La Boy (Pierro), the half brother to Storm Boy, on his outside, the pair setting a strong tempo. Jay Ford settled Snitzel Dancer perfectly in third, and despite having to chase hard, she kicked strongly to prevail narrowly over Equerry (Snitzel). Shangri La Boy boxed on bravely to finish a length away in third after working hard throughout.
Snitzel Dancer had shown promise at the trials and has long been held in high regard by her co-trainer, Gerald Ryan.
“She’s a filly that has taken a bit of time,” Ryan said.
“She’s (Snitzel Dancer) a filly that has taken a bit of time.” - Gerald Ryan
Looking ahead, Ryan suggested a patient approach:
“She has always shown good promise, she has shown that she wouldn’t be at the races as a 2-year-old, so when you look at her, she looks like she will go better as a later 3-year-old. She is a nice filly that goes quite well.
Connections of Snitzel Dancer | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“We will re-group, have a look and see what is coming up, we won't go to stakes races yet, there may be one coming up at Randwick in November, but we will play it by ear a bit, the Autumn time will be her time to shine.”
Sales Information: Snitzel Dancer was purchased by Ryan and Alexiou Racing for $425,000 from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Pedigree Information: Snitzel Dancer is the fifth foal and fifth winner from Novel Dancer (Written Tycoon), a classy juvenile who won twice and later placed in the G3 Quezette Stakes. She has produced Pancho (Dissident), winner of five races including the Listed TCL TV Stakes and Listed Kilmore Cup.
Unfortunately, Novel Dancer has not produced a live foal since Snitzel Dancer.
Snitzel Dancer as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Benevac shows speed and toughness
Benevac (Bivouac) was rated highly enough by trainer Ciaron Maher to debut in February’s Listed Lonhro Plate behind Bellazaine (Zousain). He finished eighth that day, but after a spell returned a bigger, stronger horse. Resuming with a solid third at Gosford behind Banjura (I Am Invincible), he improved again to score a tenacious win in the 3-year-old Maiden Handicap over 1100 metres at Canterbury with Tim Clark aboard.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding showed sustained speed, burning across from a wide gate to sit outside leader Defiance (Zoustar). The pair raced clear, but when Defiance faded, Benevac kept rolling, toughing it out to the line.
Buckeye (Zousain), resuming for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, charged late to just miss in a strong second, while debutant Pierro Lad (Pierro) ran an encouraging third. Peace Bird (Hellbent) finished fourth in an eye-catching effort, giving Maher three of the first four placegetters.
Maher Racing stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord said Benevac’s fitness and tactical speed were key:
Benevac winning the Maiden Plate | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“Obviously, around this track if you can skip away like he did, especially, as he’d had a run under his belt, so we were comfortable doing that.
“He's always been showing a bit of talent, that's why we started him in that race (Lonhro Plate) last prep. He did a few things wrong that day and so he's been gelded since.
“He was good first up and improved on the back of that, and yeah, it was tough today. So good to get a job done. Great to get the job done for Dynamic. They're very good supporters and Adam's granddad, Cyril, is not very well, and I think that means a lot to them.”
Tim Clark and Benevac | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Jockey Tim Clark was also full of praise:
“Look, he drew a little bit awkwardly and just had to be positive on him early to get our spot.
“I started him up a little bit to get there, and it just took me a little while to get him back, but he came back and settled off the leader, and if anywhere, it just didn't take me anywhere.
“It just left him there a bit early, and he was left a sitting duck, really.
“To the horse's credit, and to Ciaron and the team, they had him very well prepared for today. He responded well, and I felt that he went again inside the last 50 when the second horse challenged him.
Connections of Benevac | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“They really do improve into their preparations, and it's good to get the win on the board, and good to ride another winner for Dynamic.”
Sales Information: Benevac was purchased by Dynamic Syndications and Dean Watt Bloodstock for $140,000 from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree Information: Benevac is by Bivouac and is the seventh foal of Houston Benefactor (Encosta De Lago), a three-time winner who placed in the Listed Keith MacKay Handicap. She is a full sister to Sovereign Nation (Encosta De Lago), a G2 and Listed winner, who was also G1 Toorak Handicap-placed, and a three-quarter sister to the outstanding mare Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago), a four-time Group 1 winner.
Houston Benefactor has a yearling filly by Russian Revolution, and missed to the same stallion last season.
Benevac as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Just A Journey as tough as they come
Just A Journey (Justify {USA}) showed grit and determination to claim the B72 Handicap over 1550 metres at Canterbury, displaying the trademark toughness of her sire Justify (USA).
Ridden positively by Jason Collett, the Michael Freedman-trained filly led throughout. She appeared vulnerable when the big grey Icebreaker (Pariah) loomed after trailing in behind, but the 3-year-old dug deep to hold on by over half a length, with Exclusive Artist (Trapeze Artist) in third.
Just A Journey now has three wins and two placings from six starts, and she shapes as a filly likely to improve further as her distances increase.
Sales Information: Just A Journey was purchased by James Bester Bloodstock from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Just A Journey winning the Bm72 | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Pedigree Information: By Justify (USA), Just A Journey is the second foal of Caravan (Snitzel), a placed full sister to Group 1-winning sprinter Wild Ruler and half-sister to Pavitra (American Pharoah {USA}), winner of the G3 Kembla Grange Classic and placed in both the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes and G1 VRC Oaks.
Her grandam Gypsy Robin (USA) (Daaher {Can}) was a dual Group 2 and triple Listed winner in America. Caravan has since produced a So You Think (NZ) yearling colt and was not served last spring.
Serinda grows wings late to score
The Danny O’Brien-trained Serinda (Brutal {NZ}) delivered an impressive and sentimental win for the stable at Bendigo on Wednesday. The promising filly is a daughter of former O’Brien-trained Group 1 winner Absolut Glam (Snowland).
Fresh up, Serinda settled well back, worse than midfield, in a race where Left Hook (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) rolled along comfortably in front.
Craig Williams searched for runs throughout the straight, seemingly jogging until clear running appeared at the 200 metres. Once out, the Brutal (NZ) filly charged home powerfully to score by three-quarters of a length over Keep It Real (Too Darn Hot {GB}), with Kirksville (Ole Kirk) finishing third.
Craig Williams | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It was a strong victory that delighted stable representative Matt Harrington, who said the team had always been keen to secure a daughter of their past Group 1 star.
“Luke Wilkinson really loved her and it didn’t take much to convince us either being out of Absolut Glam.
“It’s always great when you can have success on the track and get their progeny through the stable.
“That was a really impressive win. It looked like she was going to be a bit of an unlucky tale, but she showed a good turn of foot late.”
“That was a really impressive win. It looked like she (Serinda) was going to be a bit of an unlucky tale but she showed a good turn of foot late.” - Matt Harrington
Jockey Craig Williams was equally upbeat about her future:
“It was good, she felt like she has got a lot of upside, it’s only her second ever start and her first start this preparation and it feels like she has a lot more to offer.
“She is still not the finished product and she still gets away with a nice win today.”
Sales Information: Serinda was purchased by Danny O’Brien Racing for $250,000 from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Serinda as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree Information: Serinda is the ninth live foal of G1 Tatt’s Winter Stakes winner Absolut Glam (Snowland). Absolut Glam has also produced G3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner Jazz Song, the dam herself of six-time winner Sword Point (American Pharoah {USA}), who has been multiple stakes placed in both Australia and Hong Kong.
In recent years, Absolut Glam has produced a yearling filly by Extreme Choice and earlier this month foaled a Stay Inside filly.
