Consistent sprinter Hot Snitzel will be targeted towards the Brisbane Winter Carnival after scoring a commanding win in the Group 3 $150,000 Ticketek Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick today.
Hot Snitzel scores a clear cut win in the Hall Mark Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.
Triple Crown syndicate chief Michael Ward is keen for Hot Snitzel to head to Queensland and will let winning trainer Gerald Ryan map out a program for the Snitzel five year old.
“He was winning Group races as a two year old and now as a five year old he is still doing it. He is a bit of a warhorse and now we look forward to going to Queensland with him,” Ward said.
“We will just see how he is going. Gerald has thrown up the 10,000 and possibly another crack at the Stradbroke or something like that.”
“We will just see how he goes once he gets up there.”
Hot Snitzel was visitor to Brisbane last year and wasn’t disgraced when sixth, beaten just over two lengths, to Linton in Group 1 $1.36m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June and could get another chance in the Winter Carnival glamour sprint as well as the Group 1 $650,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10,000 (1350m) at Doomben on May 24.
Triple Crown have started off the last day of the Sydney Autumn Carnival in great fashion and have a tremendous chance of winning a double with the syndicators teaming up with Ryan again with Peggy Jean, the favourite for the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m).
“We’ve got two runner’s today and hopefully that’s an omen for later in the day for Peggy Jean as well,” Ward said
Winning rider Hugh Bowman also started the day off in fine style with another polished display on Hot Snitzel before he heads off to Hong Kong tonight to start a three month riding stint with the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Bowman had Hot Snitzel ($7) travelling just behind the leaders coming to the home turn before letting him sprint to the front at the 300m and comfortably held off Knoydart ($2 favourite) and Aeronautical ($26).
“He is a quality horse. He is not a headline horse but he has been turning up every carnival for the last four years and winning races,” Bowman said.
“Christine and I are heading over to Hong Kong tonight, add another string to the bow so to speak.”
