June 18th, 2006

Stallions continues our look at the new stallions destined for stud. Among them is Snippetson. 

Snippetson is an eye-catching full brother to Group One winning sprinter Snowland, Snippetson is stamped unmistakably in the image of his own sire.

A $550,000 purchase from the 2003 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, he is by far the most expensive yearling ever produced by perennial favourite Snippets.

“Snippetson is a magnificent individual, very true to type and you have to respect Snippets as a sire of sires given the resounding success of his son Pins, currently the fourth leading sire in New Zealand, with Group One winners in Australia, El Segundo (Caulfield Stakes) and New Zealand, Legs (NZ Oaks), this season,” said Antony Thompson.

On the track, Snippetson showed explosive speed, breaking through for his maiden success at this third career start. After being slowly away, Snippetson, gathered momentum quickly to lead all the way. In doing so he broke the class record over 1200m in a sizzling 1:09.58, skipping over his last 600m in a quick 34.40 seconds. At his next start nearly a month later he backed up that effort going up in grade to take out the Listed STC Eskimo Prince Quality over 1100 metres.

He later extended his speed to win at 1400 metres in the Winedge Cup and closed out his career on a high note by winning the Listed STC Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill.

The true ability of Snippetson was probably best illustrated, when he ran a huge race to split seasoned Group One sprinters Dance Hero and Spark of Life to hold second in a sizzling rendition of the Group Three STC Missile Stakes.

Snippetson represents a winning combination of raw colonial speed through Snippets and the best of international bloodlines via his dam Snowdrift (FR).

“Snowdrift made $1.5 million when offered for sale at public auction last year which is a good indication of the regard in which this family is held.

Her first four foals have all been stakes performers led by brilliant juvenile and Group One winning three-year old Snowland, who stood at Widden before encountering fertility problems,” explained Thompson.

The first yearlings sired by Snowland have won rave reviews at the sales this year; selling for up to $190,000 and fans of his limited number of offspring should give strong consideration to supporting Snippetson this spring.

Of course, there is more to Snippetson’s pedigree. He has a duplication of Northern Dancer, his dam Snowdrift is out of the Thatching mare, Snowtop, a winner of three races including the Listed Joe McGrath Memorial. She is also a half-sister to the brilliant sprinter and successful sire, Al Hareb. Snowtop comes from a truly international family including the winners of the Group I English 1000 Guineas, Russian Caravan, the Group I Irish 1000 Guineas winner Tarascon and the Group 2 Prix de Conde winner Dr Somerville. 

His sire Snippets’ has produced ten group one winners including Sky Cuddle, who held out Lad Of The Manor in the prestigious Group 1 Emirates Cantala Stakes (1600m). Sky Cuddle is out of the Al Hareb mare Suggestive. 

At the time of writing Snippets overall record stands at 574 individual winners from 729 runners, that’s a fantastic 78.7% winners to runners, 56 stakes winners along with 42 stakes placegetters with $67.2 million in earnings. Snippets is also leaving his mark as a broodmare sire being the damsire of the brilliantly fast, Snitzel winner of the Oakleigh Plate, Unearthly winner of the Flight Stakes and Marju Snip winner of the Australasian Oaks.

Snippetson joins Widden's roster of 11 proven and new sires at a fee of $9,900 (inc. GST) this spring.