By Heather Anderson
Arrowfield stallion Snitzel (Aus)'s juvenile progeny have been on fire in recent weeks, and in the rescheduled NZ$200,000 G1 Sistema S. at Ellerslie Thursday evening, the colt Summer Passage (Aus) saluted by three-quarters of a length and earned his first Group 1 in the 1200-metre contest. Star Treasure (NZ) (Lonhro {Aus}) was 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Gold Fever (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) in third in the first of two Group 1 opportunities for New Zealand juveniles this season. It was a landmark top-shelf overseas victory for pilot Blake Shinn, filling in for Hong Kong hoop Zac Purton, who could not make the rescheduled meeting after torrential rain washed out the card last Saturday.
Racing for Hong Kong-based Hermitage Thoroughbreds, who also race recent G1 Livamol Classic hero Willie Cazals (Ire) (Aussie Rules), the 12-5 favourite broke widest of all and was soon hustled up in pursuit of Ujjayyi (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}). Felton Road (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) loomed up on the Snitzel colt's outside circling the bend, but quickly flattened out and it was left to Summer Passage to run down a resurgent Ujjayyi, who had edged ahead up the inside. In charge 100 metres out, Summer Passage stretched clear, with Star Treasure rallying best of the rest farther out in the course. Gold Fever nosed out Princess Rihanna (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) in a tight finish for third.
“He's an exceptional 2-year-old and it's a big thrill to get my first Group 1 winner overseas,” a jubilant Shinn told www.nzracing.co.nz. “I didn't expect to be here today and I feel for Zac, who has missed out due to unfortunate circumstances. I took the initiative from the wide draw to go forward and kept him in a comfortable rhythm. He showed a great turn of foot 300 [metres] out to put the race to bed.”
Added Lance O'Sullivan, who trains with Andrew Scott, “We'll talk to Blake and the owners and then make a decision, it's [A$1-million G1 ATC Sires' Produce S. at Randwick Apr. 1] certainly on the radar. This has been a tremendous thrill, it's a great result. The first time we ran him up at speed he showed a lot of natural ability so it's pretty special for Andrew and I and the team at home.”
Bred by Ron Gilbert's Highgrove Stud in Queensland, Summer Passage blossomed into an A$800,000 2016 Inglis Australian Easter yearling (lot 99) when knocked down to Wexford Stables of O'Sullivan and Scott. A winner of two of his three barrier trials, the September-foaled bay was beaten three lengths into second in a Jan. 28 Pukekohe maiden affair before added the 1200m Listed Matamata Slipper Feb. 25.
Pedigree Notes…
Summer Passage gave Snitzel his seventh Group 1 winner and sixth juvenile stakes winners. The second foal out the winning Encosta de Lago (Aus) mare Subsequent, who was also bred by Gilbert, Summer Passage has a yearling half-brother by Sebring and a weanling full-sister. Subsequent, a full-sister to MSW Order of the Sun (Aus) and a half-sister to SW Get to Work (Aus) (Snippets {Aus}) was served by Snitzel this past September. This is the extended family of Hong Kong MSW Scintillation (Aus) (Danehill), Australian MGSW and G1 George Main S. runner-up Shania Dane (Aus) (Danehil) and SW & GSP Risk Aversion (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}).
Thursday, Ellerslie, New Zealand
SISTEMA S.-G1, NZ$200,000, ARC, 3-16, 2yo, Open Set Weight, 1200mT, 1:10.48, Dead.
1–&@SUMMER PASSAGE (AUS), 56.5, c, 2, by Snitzel (AUS)
1st Dam: Subsequent (AUS), by Encosta de Lago (AUS)
2nd Dam: Sequin (AUS), by Lure (USA)
3rd Dam: Subterfuge (GB), by Machiavellian (USA)
(A$800,000 Ylg 2016 WI Sydney Easter Yearling Sale)
O-Hermitage Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd; B-Highgrove Stud QLD;
T-L O'Sullivan & A Scott; J-B Shinn; NZ$120,000. Lifetime
Record: 3-2-1-0, NZ$155,250. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Star Treasure, 56.5, c, 2, Lonhro (Aus)–Lost in Dubai, by
Dubai Destination (USA). (NZ$70,000 Ylg 2016 NZB National
Yearling Sale) O-Kim Chua Stanley Tan, Koon Eng Tan, Leong
Chen Ming, H C Yeow, Hui Leung Wai Man, Leung Terry & Eng
Teong Goh; B-Monovale Holdings Ltd, Waikato, NZ; T-S J
McKee; J-M R Du Plessis; NZ$39,000.
3–Gold Fever, 54.5, f, 2, Savabeel (AUS)–Gold Rocks (AUS), by
Oratorio (AUS). (A$110,000 Ylg 2016 MM Gold Coast Yearling
Sale) O-Te Akau Gold Fever Syndicate (Mgr: D C Ellis); B-G D &
Mrs H J Nicholls & Waikato Stud Ltd, Waikato, NZ; T-S Autridge
& J Richards; J-C E Lammas; NZ$19,000.
Margins: 0.8 len, 2.1 len, 2.2 len. Odds: 2.40, 16.20, 3.60.
Also Ran: Princess Rihanna, Hasahalo, Ujjayyi, Irish Flame, Aquamosa, Felton Road, Super Phan.
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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