Talented gelding Hot Snitzel has produced the day’s big upset at Doomben this afternoon; producing a monumental turn of foot to charge down resounding favourite Our Boy Malachi and win the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m); delivering jockey Blake Shinn a fifth victory for the day and Group 1 double.
Hot Snitzel completed an impressive start-to-finish effort to win the Group 1 BTC Cup at Doomben this afternoon. Photo: Daniel Costello
Hot Snitzel was allocated the ideal barrier 2 at Wednesday’s draw and made the most of the gate when jumping well and immediately travelling to the fore of the field; settling in prime position on the heels of Our Boy Malachi and Villa Verde.
Finding a good rhythm and receiving an ideal run in transit, Shinn kept the son of Snitzel balanced as the rest of the field began to press forward, and while momentarily dropping off the pace of the Team Hawkes leader, mustered an exceptional turn of foot to charge forward and capture the lead; opening a gap of more than a length when crossing the line ahead of a fast-finishing Knoydart; Our Boy Malachi maintaining for third.
Shinn delivered another exceptional performance aboard Hot Snitzel to win the 2015 BTC Cup and was quick to lay all the praise of the training efforts of Peter and Paul Snowden in the success.
“When you’re hot, you’re hot!” Shinn said.
“I really didn’t think we could win this race and neither did Peter but the horse came up here in good form, he was working really beautifully and drew a good gate.
“It’s amazing; Peter’s turned him around to win a Group 1 and unbelievable, my first Group 1 for the stable.
“The speed was quite genuine following Villa Verde and was able to push out into the turn.
“I was so impressed by this horse’s enthusiasm. Seven-years-old and gee he tried so hard, it was fantastic.”
Co-trainer Peter Snowden revealed he was not confident Hot Snitzel was a winning chance in the 2015 BTC Cup but was understandably thrilled to be proven wrong.
“He came to me in perfect order – he’d had a couple of runs, he’s rock-hard fit and probably a little bit of time between runs freshened him up,” Snowden said after the race.
“A Blake Shinn special; gee he couldn’t ride him any better, a 50 out of 10 ride.
“He’s a little bit quirky, he likes to lead outside the lead and they were going too quick to lead but he just held that perfect spot.
“Just pushed Hughie (Bowman, El Roca) out at the corner and got him out in the open and just a brilliant ride – probably the difference between winning and losing.
“I thought he’d run well by for mine I thought these horses might be a touch too good for him and I thought the Cup the week before the Stradbroke was the right race for him but I’m really glad to be wrong today.”
Srikandi experienced huge attention in BTC Cup betting markets in the hours leading up to jump however the four-year-old was never in a position to win after walking from the gates.
