Weather to decide Snitzerland’s fate in BTC Cup

In-form trainer Gerald Ryan will let the weather decide if his smart sprinting mare Snitzerland takes her place in the Group 1 $400,000 Bundaberg Distilling Co. BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Snitzerland won't run in the BTC Cup if the track is rain affected.

Snitzerland won't run in the BTC Cup if the track is rain affected. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Ryan is reluctant to start Snitzerland on a rain affected track after the Group 1 winning mare finished down the track when twelfth to Lankan Rupee on a heavy 9 in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 12.

“It is weather dependant for her,” Ryan told AAP.

“If the track is rain-affected on Saturday then she won’t run. And if she doesn’t run then she will probably go to the paddock.

“She would need to run at Doomben to go on to the longer races like the 10,000.”

The Bureau Of Meteorology has forecast rain for Brisbane later in the week but Ryan will still be left with a runner in the weight-for-age sprint if he decides not to run Snitzerland.

Last start Randwick winner Hot Snitzel will definitely be lining up in the BTC Cup, rain, hail or shine.

Hot Snitzel scored a comfortable win on a slow 6 when too strong for Knoydart and Aeronautical in the Group 3 $150,000 Ticketek Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 26.

“Hot Snitzel is flying and he has been racing the best he has his whole career this preparation,” Ryan said.

“But I think he can only win the BTC Cup if it’s damp, and if it’s dry we’ve got Snitzerland.”

Snitzerland scored at Group 1 level when she won the $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 15 during the Melbourne Autumn Carnival.

Ryan has already given the Snitzel mare one Brisbane Winter Carnival run and she wasn’t disgraced when collared right on the line when third to stablemates Temple Of Boom and Spirit Of Boom in the Group 2 $175,000 Greenslopes Private Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on April 26.

And the Ryan stable is in top form with a winning double at the Gold Cost on Saturday with Dancers On Stars in the Listed $175,000 Carlton Draught Prime Minister’s Cup (1300m) and Dothraki in the Group 3 $125,000 Attwood Marshall Lawyers Gold Coast Guineas (1200m).

Local hero Buffering and Darley three year old Sidestep share favouritism at $3.20 in the BTC Cup with Snitzerland marked as $8 chance alongside of stablemate Hot Snitzel with Spirit Of Boom at $8 and Temple Of Boom at $9.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.