Talented filly Flying Snitzel will bypass the Sires’ Produce Stakes and head straight to the Group One Champagne Stakes after a dominant win at Rosehill on Saturday.
Flying Snitzel had 58kg and made a long run from the 600-metre mark in Saturday’s Listed Schweppervescence (1400m) but it didn’t matter as she strode away to a half-length victory.
Dear Demi ($8.50) battled on gamely to finish second with two lengths back to Strength ($26) who was doing his best work late for third.
“She’ll go straight to the Champagne now,” trainer Gerald Ryan said.
“Right from when she first started I’ve said she was a 1400 to 1600 metres horse.
“The Champagne has always been her aim. Whether she’s good enough we’ll have to wait and see.”
The Champagne Stakes (1600m) is the third leg of the two-year-old triple crown in Sydney and will be run at Randwick on April 28.
Flying Snitzel was sent out a $2.20 favourite on the back of her fast-finishing third in the Magic Night Stakes.
Sydney’s premiership-leading jockey Hugh Bowman positioned the filly near the speed, three-wide with cover, before electing to make a move from the 600 metre mark.
Flying Snitzel strode to the front rounding the home turn and was strong to the line to notch her second win from five starts.
Bowman believes the Champagne is the right target for the powerful filly.
“She’ll love a mile and she’s shown she’s around that class,” Bowman said.
“It was a good race for her today dropping back in class but she did have to carry the weight.
“I didn’t want to take off when I did but it was a trot and canter and I thought if I didn’t go then they would be attacking me from all angles.
“When I let her go she had them beaten.”
Trainer John Thompson was delighted with the way third-placed Strength hit the line and said the colt was likely to progress to the Fernhill Handicap over 1600m.
“He’ll be a better three-year-old,” Thompson said.
AAP TURF
