Hot Snitzel takes out Royal Soverign in tight finish

First up specialist Hot Snitzel has opened up the way for a profitable Autumn with a gutsy win in the Group 2 $175,000 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

Trainer Gerald Ryan hasn’t mapped out a plan for Hot Snitzel for the rest of the Autumn but is certain he will hold his own against the three year olds for the remainder of the Sydney Carnival.

“He has some sensational first up stats,” Ryan said.

“I reckon he has won four out of four but the records show he has won three and got beaten a bee’s what’s-his-name in the Skyline last year.”

“He is a good honest little horse and I don’t know where we go next, I haven’t thought anywhere beyond today.”

“He is terrific. He has come up bigger and stronger. We’ll keep placing him and he’ll keep running well.”

Top Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman made it two wins on Hot Snitzel and set out to make it a truly run 1200m applying pressure to the leader Moment Of Change from the outset.

With the early pace on, Hot Snitzel was still able to dig deep under hard riding from Bowman at the finish and held off the fast finishing favourite Manawanui to win by a head in the fast time of 1.8.99.

Moment Of Change wasn’t disgraced and fought on well for jockey Blake Shinn to finished in third spot after setting up the hot pace.

Hot Snitzel was heavily supported in the ring firming from $7 to start $4.80 while the unlucky Manawanui drifted out slightly from $2.30 to start $2.40 favourite.

“We went out there with the idea of making it a fight because we know this little horse doesn’t lie down. 80 yards out I was starting to get a bit worried because first up he had done a bit of yakka. He stuck his head out though and had a go,” Ryan said.

Bowman wrapped up a winning treble with Hot Snitzel and was very ecstatic after the win.

“I’ve ridden him quite a lot and have had a couple of good wins on him. We went down narrowly to Uate here one day (Skyline Stakes) so to get a decent win here means a lot to me and obviously the connections,” Bowman said.

Followers of Manawanui should not be disappointed with the run as he was held up in the straight and made a late dive at the winner after Tommy Berry got him into the clear.

The Oratoria gelding showed that he is on track for a good Autumn.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.