A rare mix of speed and tenacity turned what appeared to be certain defeat into a fourth successive victory for star filly Snitzerland in the Blue Sapphire (1200m) at Caulfield.
“It’s hard to win four on end anywhere, let alone at this time of the year,” said trainer Gerald Ryan.
Snitzerland winning the Open at Caulfield - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia (Steven Dowden)
“That was a real good effort, I thought she was gone.”
Along with punters who had laid the odds-on, Ryan had virtually resigned himself to defeat at the 250m when Snitzerland ($1.95) couldn’t shake off the early leader Lankan Rupee and the Adelaide runner Fire Thunderbolt.
But jockey Corey Brown got busy on the filly who rallied in the final 50m to score by a half neck from Fire Thunderbolt ($18) who grabbed second by a half head from Lankan Rupee ($5).
Snitzerland has now won her four starts this time in, leaving her record at six wins and two seconds from her nine starts.
The win also added merit – if any is needed – to the form of super colt Pierro who beat her by only a long neck in the Golden Slipper.
For Ryan it also got her past the race he believed would be her toughest in a spring campaign that may well culminate with the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in three weeks.
“I always thought this would be the tricky one,” Ryan said.
“Now that we’ve got it out of the way we can go to the Coolmore on Derby Day feeling pretty good.”
Ryan had originally planned to run against the older horses in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic after the Coolmore but will now re-think that plan.
“If she wins on Derby Day it may be a case of why go again,” he said.
