Tales Of The Past: The magic flows on from the barn

By Ross Stanley

Placegetters in the Magic Millions Classics have been prominent on pedigree pages.

Many of the colts and fillies that have been in the money in the Gold Coast’s rich January juvenile contest became sires and broodmares with some heading dynasties.

The first and arguably best poster boy is Lunchtime’s bay son, Snippets, the Gold Coaster that scored in the inaugural edition in 1987.

Jessica Owers wrote in The Thoroughbred Report (July 30, 2021) that “Snippets was a late foal in 1984, born at Gregadoo Stud on November 1.

“The colt’s dam, Easy Date had been sold three times, first for $5000 at a small Scone sale and then by Barry Gamer (a Newcastle car salesman) to John Augustine. She was carrying Snippets as she moved around the country. As a yearling, her colt headed to the Gold Coast for the new concept Sale in early 1986.”

In the article, MM Sales Director David Chester said, “I distinctly remember him arriving on the complex, and Carl Waugh (breeder and one of the original owners of Magic Millions) took one look at him and said: Get this horse off the grounds and send him to someone that can clean him up.They sent him to Sally Rogers, and that’s how she ended up training him.”

 John and his wife Jane bought their boy back at the MM auction for $22,000. 

An investigation of Snippet’s maternal kinfolk is very worthwhile. Easy Date was by Grand Chaudiere (Can), the Northern Dancer progenitor that served Warwick’s Lyndhurst Stud so well. Her four black-type winners were Snippets, Quick Score (the minor placegetter in the 1990 MM Classic), Asawir and Forensics’ grand-dam True Blonde. The quartet were all parents of stakes-winners.

The match up of Redoute’s Choice with Singles Bar, Easy Date’s daughter by Rory’s Jester, produced Not A Single Doubt, the bay colt that was beaten less than a length by Dance Hero in the 2004 MM Classic.

Previously, for Larry Cassidy, he had bolted in at Rosehill and won the 2003 AJC Canonbury Stakes and Wyong’s Strawberry Hill Slipper. He missed the Golden Slipper and was off the scene for 10 months through a fetlock injury incurred in the Todman Slipper Trial. His other victory in 10 appearances was in the 2005 MRC Zeditave Stakes. 

Not A Single Doubt, with fees that ranged from  $13,750 to $110,000, flourished in the breeding barn before his passing at Arrowfield Stud in 2021 at age 20. 

Eighty of his progeny have amassed 162 black-type credits. Success stories at Group 1 level have been recorded across five states by Clearly Innocent, Good Project, Instant Celebrity, Kenedna, Mighty Boss, Miracles of Life, Qafila, Samadoubt, Scales of Justice, Secret Agenda, Shout The Bar and Single Gaze with Southern Legend prevailing in the 2020 Hong Kong Champions Mile victor. 

Not A Single Doubt’s daughter Karuta Queen won the 2011 Magic Millions Classic as well as the 2011 MVRC Australia Stakes while his son Farnan, currently on Kia Ora Stud’s stallion roster, saluted in the 2021 ATC Golden Slipper. Dubious in 2019 and Stellar Pauline (2020) were MM Classic winners by Not A Single Doubt.

The two-year-old North England, a member of Farnan’s first crop, has already pocketed the 2024 $3m ATC Golden Gift.

The lightly raced  Extreme Choice (2016 MRC Blue Diamond, MVRC Moir Stakes), was also by Not A Single Doubt. His offspring includes Espiona (2023 STC Coolmore Classic) and She’s Extreme (2022 ATC Champagne Stakes, VRC Oaks). 

The chestnut stallion joined Sir Tristram (Ire) as the only fathers of Golden Slipper and Melbourne Cup winners. The former did it with Stay Inside and Knight’s Choice while the latter did likewise with Marauding and the stayers Empire Rose and Gurner’s Lane.

Also through Singles Bar, Easy Date is on the maternal side of stakes-winning producer Zizou (2006 VRC Maribyrnong Trial Stakes).

Forensics (2008 STC Queen of the Turf Stakes, VRC Myer Classic) edged him out of the glory in the 2007 Golden Slipper. He was also runner-up in the Blue Diamond Prelude, Blue Diamond Stakes and the Todman Slipper Trial.

Easy Date’s descendants incorporate the Group1 performers Ertijaal (2015 SAF Cape Derby Stakes), Rewaaya (2006 MRC Sir Rupert Clarke), Sense of Occasion (2017 BTC Doomben Cup) and Oohood, the runner-up in the 2018 ATC Golden Slipper and Sires’ Produce Stakes that took out the ATC Flight Stakes.

LUNCHTIME SERVING

The Dewhurst is Great Britain’s two-year-old event for the creme de la creme. Its honour roll includes stars such as Frankel, Teofilo, Shamardal, Rock of Gibraltar, Generous, Scenic, The Minstrel, Nijinsky, Grand Lodge, Kala Dancer and Too Darn Hot, the sire of Broadsiding, last season’s Australian Juvenile Champion.

The 1964 Dewhurst victor was Silly Season (USA). In 1972, the feat was emulated by his son Lunchtime (GB), an eye-catching chestnut that was unbowed at two. Given the flirtatious tendencies displayed at three, his time on the turf was limited to just six outings. Widden studmaster James “Bim” Thompson selected him to join his Hunter Valley nursery.

Street Cafe (1984 VATC Blue Diamond, VRC Sires Produce Stakes) was a brilliant Lunchtime two-year-old. In the 1980s, his full brother Picnic in the Park was a household name in Queensland because he posted 21 consecutive victories. 

Lunchtime’s daughter Food for Love was the dam of Lady Jakeo (1994 MVRC Australia Stakes,1993 Blue Diamond). Her daughter Miss Jakeo was the dam of Mrs Onassis (2013 MRC Oakleigh Plate). Jesmond Lass was a wonderful producer. Her couplings with Bletchingly resulted in Canny Lass and   Canny Lad, the grand-sire of Redoute’s Choice and I Am Invincible.

The Lunchtime colt Pre Catelan (1985 AJC Breeders’ Plate, STC Silver Slipper Stakes) was named after a stunning Parisian restaurant patronised by jockey George Moore and his wife, Iris. Loader, the chestnut’s gelded son, picked up New Zealand’s plum sprints in 1996, namely the ARC Railway Handicap and the WRC Telegraph Handicap.

Snippets, Lunchtime’s most meritorious frontman with a 14:9-2-0 career line, triumphed in the 1988 VATC Oakleigh Plate, AJC The Galaxy, AJC Challenge Stakes, AJC Carrington Stakes, 1987 AJC Sires Produce Stakes, The Brambles at Kembla, 1986 QTC Meynink Stakes and ran second in Special’s VRC Lightning. 

Akhenaton (2000 Doomben Cup),Casual Pass (2003 Mackinnon Stakes, 2006 Caulfield Stakes), Hasna (2003 STC Silver Slipper Stakes, AJC Sires Produce Stakes, Champagne Stakes and a minor placing in her Golden Slipper),Sky Cuddle (2004 VRC Emirates Stakes),Spartacus (1997 MVRC Manikato Stakes, Australia Stakes, VATC Oakleigh Plate), Sublimate (1993 AJC The Galaxy) and Suntain (1996 BATC Doomben 10,000) comprise Snippets’ list of elite level winners.

His MM Classic placegetters were Quick Snip (1992), La Snippette (1996) and Snitzel (2005).

Snippet’s daughter, Scandinavia, was smart enough to win the 1998 QTC Qantas (now Moreton) Cup and fill a place in a VRC Lightning, Salinger Stakes and an SAJC Goodwood Handicap. She did much better as a matron of an equine royal family with the stakes-winners Arctic Flight, Scandiva, Wilander and Magnus (2007 The Galaxy), the sire of the Group 1 scorers Great Shot, Malaguerra, Magnifisio and Streets of Avalon.

Helsinge, Scandinavia’s daughter, was the dam of the legendary Black Caviar and the four times Group 1 winner All Too Hard, the bay that sired Alligator Blood, Behemoth, Stefi Magnetica, Forbidden Love and Wellington (2022 Hong Kong Sprint). 

Other Snippet broodmares provided the sport with Red Tracer (2013 Tatt’s Tiara), Fiveandahalfstar (2012 VRC Derby), Overreach (2013 Golden Slipper), Crystal Lily (2010 Golden Slipper), Bel Sprinter (2013 The Galaxy), Shellscrape (2010 The Galaxy), Romantic Touch (2013 BRC J. J. Atkins Stakes), Boom Time (2017 Caulfield Cup), Marju Snip (2006 SAJC Australasian Oaks) and Unearthly (2003 AJC Flight Stakes), the dam of Invest (2012 Australasian Oaks).

Toowoomba’s Chris and Jane Barham pulled the right rein when they shelled out $220,000 for the Snippets-Decidity filly that was bred nearby at Ron Gilbert’s Highgrove Stud.

In short, she was called Jolie Bay (2012 ATC Roman Consul Stakes) and is the dam of Joliestar (2023 MRC One Thousand Guineas) and Merchant Navy (2017 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes, 2018 Royal Ascot Diamond Jubilee Stakes), the sire of (Royal Merchant (SAJC Goodwood Handicap).

Snippets was also the grand-sire of Intergaze, a remarkable galloper that chalked up eight Group 1s in the late 1990s.

A FANTASTIC UNION 

Francios Naude, the principal of Coral Sea Farms to the north of Ingham, prospered through an operation that involved seafood ranging from prawns to cod.

His finest catch was Snippet’s Lass, a filly by Snippets from Snow Finch (Ire). The maternal sire Storm Bird (Can) won the 1980 Dewhurst.

The bay won twice and was placed five times in  Listed company before Naude put her to Redoute’s Choice. The outcome, Viennese, went for $1,400,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale. She picked up two stakes races.

Earlier, Snitzel, Snippet’s Lass brother to Viennese, brought  $260,000 at the 2004 MM Sale.

The mare died in 2007 soon after giving birth to a Fastnet Rock colt. This time Naude opted to keep the youngster which he called Hinchinbrook after the island near his North Queensland worksite.

After being on top in the 2010 AJC Canonbury Stakes and the 2010 AJC Skyline Stakes, luck deserted Hinchinbrook. Thereafter his lot was placings in the Pago Pago, the Sires, Oakleigh Plate, the William Reid, the AJC All Aged Stakes and two Listed contests plus a fourth berth in the Golden Slipper. 

Hinchinbrook was hurt in England where the target was Royal Ascot. After 14 tasks, he took up stud duties at Yarraman Park with Naude retaining a significant interest.

His noted performers were Beat The Clock (2019 Hong Kong Sprint), Press Statement (2015 Caulfield Guineas, J.J. Atkins Stakes), Seabrook (2018 ATC Champagne Stakes) and Spright 2019 (SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes). At age 10 in 2018, he broke his hind leg while on the walking machine at his birthplace.

Snitzel’s first service fee was $33,000. For his 19th season, it will be $247,500.

According to Arrowfield’s précis about its evergreen entire that took his first steps on August 24, 2002, he was four times the Champion Sire of Australia, four times time Champion Sire of Juveniles, sire of 12 Champions, 21 Group 1 winners, 58 two-year-old stakeswinners, 16 stakes-siring sons and 60 million-dollar yearlings.

His main wins were the 2006 Oakleigh Plate, AJC Challenge Stakes,2005 Up and Coming Stakes, STC Skyline Stakes, AJC Breeders’ Plate and the 2004 version of what is now the Bruce McLachlan Stakes. The prizemoney totalled just over $1 million with 15-7-1-3 line from 15 opportunities. 

Snitzel dead heated for third in his Magic Millions Classic attempt. Unfortunately he gave his head a real bump whilst rearing before despatch in the 2005 Golden Slipper and was never a chance.

His 147 stakes-winners include the Group 1 achievers Estijaab (2018 Golden Slipper), Shinzo (2023 Golden Slipper), Hot Snitzel (2015 BTC Cup), In The Congo (2021 Golden Rose), Invader (2017 ATC Sires Produce Stakes), Lady Shenandoah (2024 ATC Flight Stakes), Redzel (2017 Doomben 10,000, ATC Darley Classic, 2017-18 ATC The Everest), Russian Revolution, (2017 ATC The Galaxy, 2018 MRC Oakleigh Plate), General Nediym’s grand-daughter I Am Excited (2020 ATC The Galaxy), Sizzling (2012 BRC T.J. Smith Classic) Snitzerland (2014 VRC Lightning Stakes), Switzerland (2024 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes), Wandjina (2015 Australian Guineas), Wild Ruler (2021 MVRC Moir Stakes,) Yearning (2021 MRC One Thousand Guineas), Summer Passage, in 2017, and Sword of State (2021) won the Auckland Diamond Stakes.

The ball rolls on. At the end of the 2024 Melbourne spring carnival, the Sandown Guineas quinella was filled by his promising pair Snitzanover and Bittercreek.

CONTINUING THE LINE 

In 2006, Snitzel began the courtship side of life. More than 20 sons have since followed suit.

In the group is Trapeze Artist (2017 ATC Golden Rose, 2018  ATC All Aged Stakes, ATC T.J. Smith Stakes, 2019 Canterbury Stakes), the sire of the Caulfield Guineas victor Griff.

So too is Shamus Award (2013 Cox Plate 2014, VRC Australian Guineas), the father of 25 black-type winners. Other top level performers by the son of Snitzel and the Success Express mare Sunset Express to date are Incentivise (2021 MRC Caulfield Cup, VRC Turnbull Stakes, VRC Makybe Diva Stakes), Duais (2021 BRC Queensland Oaks, 2022 VRC Australian Cup, 2022 ATC Tancred Stakes), El Patroness (2022 ATC Oaks), Mr Quickie (2019 BRC Queensland Derby, 2020 MRC Toorak Handicap) and the New Zealander Quintessa (2024 WRC  Levin Classic). 

Other profitable offspring of Snitzel are Sizzling (2012 BRC T.J. Smith Classic), Snitzerland (2014 VRC Lightning Stakes), Switzerland (2024 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes), Wandjina (2015 Australian Guineas), Wild Ruler (2021 MVRC Moir Stakes), and Yearning (2021 MRC One Thousand Guineas) plus Summer Passage and Sword of State (Auckland Diamond Stakes).

Snitzel’s pair Exhilarates and Away Game have harvested Magic Millions Classics while his placegetters are Highness, Schiffer, Sweet Idea (2015 The Galaxy), Oakleigh Girl, Nikitas,Chauffeur and Snitcat.

Also in the category is Russian Conquest, Snitzel’s grand-daughter through his son Russian Revolution (2017 The Galaxy, 2018 Oakleigh Plate), the sire of  Communist (2023 Randwick Guineas). Last year’s minor money recipient Spywire is by Trapeze Artist.

SNIPPETS OTHER SONS

Snippets signed off his turf chapter in 1988 and kicked off his breeding barn efforts at Mike Willesee’s Trans Media Park Stud at Cootamundra. He relocated to Arrowfield Stud in 1994 and was serving until his death in January 2002. His 55 stakes-winners generated 119 black-type hits.

Snippets’ son Snowland’s 19th and final track assignment in 2003 yielded his only major, The Galaxy. He already had six black-type notches in his belt. His daughter Absolut Glam also made it to the top shelf via her success in the 2008 version of Tattersall’s Tiara.

The dual stakes-winner Snippetson furnished the Group winners Fast Clip, My Poppette, Snippets Land, That’s The One, Tinsnip, Vergara and eight with Listed attainments.

The Fastnet Rock entire Wanted (2010 VRC Newmarket) from the Snippets’ mare Fragmentation sired Helene Leading Star (2018 SAJC Derby). 

Picnicker (1993 SAJC Tokyo City Cup) sired Intelligent Star (2002 MRC Rubiton Stakes).

Yet another of Snippet’s lads in Pins (VRC Australian Guineas) reached stellar heights at Waikato Stud.

His prime movers were Ambitious Dragon, triple Group 1 success in Hong Kong, Aerovelocity (as Naisoso Warrior) saluted four times at the acme level in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. It was the same tally for El Segundo in Melbourne with the Cox Plate as the pinnacle.

On the other side of the Tasman Katie Lee (the One Thousand and Two Thousand Guineas double) and Legs (Kelt Capital Stakes, New Zealand Oaks) put their best foot forward.

Pins’ mares turned out Probabeel (ATC Epsom, Surround Stakes, Caulfield Stakes and Futurity Stakes), Stratum Star (2015 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, WATC Kingston Town Classic), Brambles (2012 Queensland Derby) and Savvy Coup (New Zealand Oaks).

OTHER BLOODLINES 

To date, no bloodstock has emerged from the MM Classic’s trifectas to rival the level of impact generated by Snippets and Snitzel.

However, the following horses that were on the MM Classic podium are a sample of quality contributors to the thoroughbred genetic pool. The list indicates the year and placing and the key achievements of the offspring.

1988: Snippet’s daughter Mean Eyes (third placed) foaled Grand Archway (1990 VRC Oaks, AJC Oaks, MVRC Australia Stakes).

1990: St Jude (first) sired Little Jamie (2000 Gr1 MwtuRC Sires Produce Stakes).

1991: Bold Promise (first) was the dam of Merlene (1996 STC Golden Slipper, AJC Sires Produce Stakes) and Miss Moneypenny (2000 Newmarket, Australia Stakes) and the grand-dam of Dear Demi (2012 VRC Oaks).

1992: Zodiac Miss (second) was exported to the USA. Her daughter Azeri collected two Group 1s, the 2002 USA Breeders Cup (Distaff) and Spinster Stakes.

1994: Brave Warrior (first) sired Show A Heart (2000 MRC Caulfield Guineas, ATC T. J. Smith Stakes and the 2001 MRC Toorak Handicap. In the 2002 QTC Stradbroke Handicap, he had a head margin on Falvelon, his subsequent workmate at Beaudesert’s Glenlogan Stud.

Show A Heart’s talented progeny included Heart of Dreams (2009 Australian Guineas, MRC Underwood Stakes), Woorim (2012 Oakleigh Plate) and Toorak Toff  (2010 STC Golden Rose, 2011 Sir Rupert Clarke). 

The best of the small number of crops by the 1994 runner-up St Covet (Caulfield Guineas, Sires Produce Stakes) was All Thrills Too (2002 Hong Kong Sprint). 

1997: General Nediym (first) won the 1998 VRC Lightning-Newmarket double. The top flight performer, that was in the frame in the Caulfield Guineas and a Doomben 10,000, sired two MM Classic winners in Military Rose and Regimental Gal (VRC Lightning, MVRC Australia Stakes). Also to his credit was Mrs Onassis (MRC Oakleigh Plate) and Warhorse (ARC Diamond Stakes).

Mares by The General delivered Hey Doc (2017 MVRC Manikato Stakes, VRC Australian Guineas, 2019 WATC Winterbottom Stakes), Jameka (2015 VRC Oaks, 2016 MRC Caulfield Cup, 2017 The BMW), Lasqueti Spirit (2016 VRC Oaks) and the aforementioned Mr Quickie.

Regimental Gal’s first foal Vimy (by Redoute’s Choice) sold for $1.5 million. Her gelding Souchez collected the 2016 ATC Pago Pago Stakes. Three of her subsequent foals were knocked down for $600,000, $700,000 and $750,000.

The stand out representative for the 1999 MM hero Testa Rossa was Ortensia (2011 WATC Winterbottom Stakes, 2012 Britain’s Nunthorpe Stakes, AUE Al Quoz Sprint). The mare’s grandsire was Snippets’ son Picnicker. 

Testafiable (2006 SAJC Derby) and Enzo’s Lad (2018-19 WRC Telegraph Handicap) also did Testa Rossa proud while Rostova (2010 SAJC Robert Sangster Classic) was the dam of Anaheed, the four-time Group winner in Sydney and Melbourne. 

Testa Rossa’s son, Wordsmith, (2007 VRC The Debonair) was handy at stud in Tasmania with eight stakes-winners and his filly Twilight Royale (2013 VRC Sires Produce Stakes) foaled Seresana (2023 Sandown Guineas).

The 2014 MM winner, the short lived Unencumbered (BRC Bruce McLachlan Stakes), was also by Testa Rossa. His best asset was Beau Rossa (2021 SAJC Euclase Stakes) while Le Chef, the successful candidate in the Gold Coast’s glamour event in 2015, was grandson of Testa Rossa.

2001: The Zedative colt Magic Albert (third) sired Albert the Fat (VRC Emirates, BTC Cup at Doomben), Ilovethiscity (2011 ATC Randwick Guineas) and Magic Cape (2006 CJC Two Thousand Guineas in New Zealand).

2002: Lovely Jubly (first), by the ill-fated Lion Hunter, was passed in at $720,000 at a MM sale after her injury induced retirement.

She was bred by Dan Hayes at his Carnation Lodge set up at Delaneys Creek near Woodford. The outcome of her mating with Encosta De Lago was Chautauqua, the scintillating grey that banked $8.8 million, courtesy of five Group 1s thrills headed by 2015-16-17 ATC T.J. Smith Stakes hat trick.

2005: Bradbury’s Luck (first), the grey by Redoute’s Choice from Skating that won the 2004 AJC Canonbury Stakes, stood at Glenlogan Park. The Perth idol that put him on the map was Luckygray (2011and 2013 WATC Railway Stakes, 2012 Kingston Town Classic).

2016: Nineteen of the progeny of the Written Tycoon stallion Capitalist (first) have earnt 24 black-type ticks with Captivant (2021 ATC Champagne Stakes) the sole Group 1 hitter. Capitalist started just six times. He also took out the 2016 Golden Slipper, Wyong Magic Millions Classic and the 2015 Breeder’s Plate plus placings in the Todman Slipper Trial and the ATC Roman Consul Stakes.

2018: Sunlight (first) has made a promising start at stud with the $1.4 million Magic Millions price for Dawn Service. The sparingly raced colt has secured the 2024 VRC Exford Plate and, like Storm Boy (2024 MM Classic), is by Justify.

2023: Skirt The Law (first) is by Better Than Ready, a grandson of the 1999 MM Classic runner-up Sally Magic. 

The survey above is a tip of the iceberg. It does not cover unplaced MM Classic candidates and the focus has been mainly on Group 1 results.

Snippets and Snitzel deservedly dominate the space. Their combined influence has been felt since barrier rise for the MM business. It will continue  for quite some time because this month’s Magic Millions catalogue lists 100 entries with Snitzel as sire or grand-sire.

Ahead, there is another fascinating chapter. 

In late November 2024, a colt was born as a result of the Snitzel-Winx mating. The iconic mare’s earlier foal by Pierro was bought for $10 million by Winx’s part owner Debbie Kepitis. The price tag was double the previous record for an auctioned yearling. It was set by “Jimmy”, Black Caviar’s half-brother by Redoute’s Choice that succumbed to laminitis in 2013.

Just after entering the gates at the Bundall racecourse, patrons pass a statue of Peter Gallagher (1937-2003). He was Vice Chairman of the Gold Coast Turf Club for 10 years and then was “captain” for five more.

“Pedro” was a much admired Townsville born rugby league player, donning the Australian jersey for 17 tests with one as leader. He was in the boiler room where toughness is mandatory. 

He has something in common with Snippets in that they both had to take the ball up.

In the story three years ago in The Thoroughbred Report, David Chester, the MM’s International Sales Director, stated that  “Magic Millions wouldn’t be here today if it hadn’t been for that first Sale and the success of Snippets. I’ve always said we should erect a monument to this horse, because he’s more important than anyone.”

Gallagher could do with a team mate. A statue of Snippets would fit the bill.