It is hard to imagine anybody has enjoyed more success with the progeny of Snitzel than the man who trained him.
Gerald Ryan not only prepared the now-champion stallion during his racing career but has also put the polish on many of his stakes-winning sons and daughters, including Trapeze Artist, Snitzerland, Menari and Spill The Beans.
Despite his record of success, Ryan says there is no particular physical attribute or pedigree cross he looks for in Snitzel’s progeny.
“Not really. I just need to like the horse to look at,” Ryan said.
“The Snitzels come in all shapes and sizes, so you either like them or you don’t like them as an individual horse.”
Ryan and training partner Sterling Alexiou will start two sons of Snitzel at Rosehill on Saturday, Deficit in the Dooleys Handicap (1500m) and Rammstein in the Smithfield RSL Club Sprint (1200m).
With two wins and three placings from just six starts, Deficit arguably presents as the stable’s Rosehill runner with the most upside, even if he is not the most physically imposing.
“He’s not very big, about 15.2 (hands) but he thinks he is pretty good,” Ryan said.
“I have got a bit of time for him. He is a good, honest little horse who tries hard.”
Rammstein is coming off a last-start second at Kembla Grange and Ryan said it was no surprise to see the horse run well there after he beat one rival home first-up at Canterbury.
“He is always better after he has had a race. He has never won under 1200 metres, and it was 1100 metres on a dry track (first-up),” he said.
“He has done well since.”
Interestingly, two of Ryan’s remaining three acceptors, Amica and Mr Mosaic, are by Rubick, another stallion Ryan trained.
