Trainer Gerald Ryan is hoping some Black Caviar magic will rub off on his classy filly Snitzerland after she tried out some of the champion mare’s hand-me-downs during a stopover in Melbourne this week.
Snitzerland, who is part-owned by Neil Werrett, a major shareholder in Black Caviar, tested the lycra travelling suit specially made for the mare’s trip to Ascot last year.
Snitzerland - Photo by Steve Hart
So impressed was the trainer he bought Snitzerland a new one of her own before she continued her journey to Adelaide where she is due to race in Saturday’s Group One Robert Sangster Stakes.
“Peter Moody lent us one of the suits yesterday and I put it on Snitzerland in her box so she’d get used to it,” Ryan said.
“She seemed happy enough so I went and invested in one myself … we’ll see if it works.
“But if it’s good enough for Black Caviar, it’s good enough for Snitzerland.”
Black Caviar won last year’s Robert Sangster and two weeks later made South Australia’s premier sprint the Group One Goodwood (1200m) her 21st win.
Snitzerland is heading for the same double, so long as the track at Morphettville, rated in the dead range on Tuesday, remains reasonable.
Ryan said he would be content with a slow track for the filly who has never raced on anything worse than a dead surface, although she has won trials on slow and heavy going.
Should the track deteriorate before the Goodwood, Ryan said he would look for a flight to Brisbane and run Snitzerland in the Group One BTC Cup.
Snitzerland followed a brilliant first-up win in the Challenge Stakes at Warwick Farm last month with a second to Bel Sprinter in the Galaxy at Rosehill.
“Bel Sprinter did something unbelievable in the Galaxy,” Ryan said.
“And he made the form look good by finishing third to Black Caviar.
“So I’m pretty happy with the form we’re in.”
Under the weight-for-age conditions of the Sangster, Snitzerland will carry 54.5kg with regular rider Corey Brown in the saddle.
