Champion stallion Snitzel enjoyed a remarkable Derby Day at Flemington, producing a Group 1 double through The Next Episode and Lady Shenandoah, while also claiming the quinella in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
The Arrowfield Stud sire was responsible for two of the day’s biggest winners, with his progeny earning approximately $4.5 million across the meeting.
The Next Episode delivered the first major success when defeating fellow Snitzel colt St Gotthard in a thrilling finish to the $2 million Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Both colts started among the leading chances, with St Gotthard and James McDonald making their move approaching the final 300 metres.
However, Mark Zahra produced The Next Episode at the right moment, with the Ciaron Maher-trained colt responding strongly to take control of the race.
St Gotthard fought back and recorded the fastest closing sectional, but The Next Episode held on to score by 0.2 lengths.
The result marked the fifth Group 1 quinella of Snitzel’s stud career and his second of 2026, following Fireball’s victory over Campione D’Italia in April’s Champagne Stakes at Randwick.
The Next Episode became Snitzel’s 29th individual Group 1 winner, further enhancing the stallion’s outstanding record.
Bred by Widden Bloodstock, Warringah Stud Farm and Frampton Racing, the colt is out of Group-winning sprinter Humma Humma, a daughter of Bel Esprit.
He was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $2.8 million from Widden Stud’s Magic Millions draft, making him the highest-priced colt at the sale and the most expensive yearling ever sold by Snitzel.
Remarkably, the previous benchmark was held by Saturday’s runner-up St Gotthard, who was purchased by Tom Magnier for $2.7 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Snitzel’s success continued later in the afternoon when Lady Shenandoah produced a dominant performance in the $1 million Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).
The champion mare defeated Concord Connie and Group 1 winner Idle Flyer to secure her fifth victory at the highest level.
It was the first occasion in Snitzel’s career that he had sired two Group 1 winners at the same meeting.
McDonald was full of praise for Lady Shenandoah following another impressive performance.
“It was pretty smooth…she began like a rocket and she thought ‘I’ll get it over and done with pretty quickly’, so I just had to give her a little reminder that hey, I’m in charge here’ and she did that really well. From that part onwards, god, it was really smooth, she just relaxed, she glided in the straight and was never going to lose.
“One thing about her, she always runs to a very high level, so for horses to get to her, she won’t decrease, she just turns up and gets the job done.”
Lady Shenandoah now heads Snitzel’s list of Group 1 winners with five victories, surpassing Trapeze Artist, who won four.
She also ranks as his highest-earning female runner, having accumulated approximately $5.6 million in prizemoney.
That represents an extraordinary return on the $525,000 Hermitage Thoroughbreds paid for her as a yearling at Magic Millions.
Snitzel’s influence extended beyond his two Group 1 winners on Saturday.
Golden Eagle runner-up Decorum and Carbine Club Stakes runner-up Unhinged also contributed to the stallion’s substantial prizemoney haul.
The performances have strengthened Snitzel’s position in the Australian Sires’ Premiership, putting him within striking distance of current leader Street Boss.
Arrowfield stallions and graduates have now been responsible for nine of the first 24 Australian Group 1 races of the 2026-27 season, representing 37.5 per cent of the total.
Snitzel’s latest generation is also showing considerable promise, with his 2023 crop already producing nine stakes winners and another six stakes performers from just 53 runners.
That group includes Group 1 winners Fireball, Campione D’Italia and The Next Episode.
For a stallion whose 2023 crop was conceived when he was 20 years old, Saturday’s results provided another reminder of Snitzel’s remarkable longevity and influence on Australian racing.
