The Tony McEvoy trained colt
Azazel, a 2YO colt boasting an interesting pedigree mix, made a professional race debut to win over 1000m at Moonee Valley on Saturday to provide Snitzel with his
44th stakes winner.
He is also Snitzel’s 19th juvenile stakes winner and his eighth black type winner already this season.
A recent Cranbourne barrier trial winner, Azazel ran home strongly from off the pace to win the $250,000 dash by 1.75 lengths and repay a big slice of the $310,000 he cost as a yearling.
Azazel will now be aimed at the G3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on November 5 before he puts him aside for the autumn.
"I've got a really good batch of young horses and he's been at the pointy end all the way through,” Trainer Tony McEvoy said.
"He's a big, strong horse and he's sound. He wants to be here.
"I think we can go to the Maribyrnong Plate then sweeten him for the autumn."
After Azazel won at Moonee Valley, Snitzel’s international stocks received a boost when Young Man Power completed an stakes double for on the day for the sire in the Gr3 Tokyo Fuji Stakes over 1600m in Japan.
Young Man Power is a colt from Snitzel's second Japanese crop has now won the equivalent of approximately $1.8 million from four wins - three at Gr3 level - and five placings in 14 starts.
Young Man Power and Alazel combined to give Snitzel his eighth same-day stakes double.
Then on Sunday, the
Listed Ladbrokes Sale Cup (1600m) went to First Course (Snitzel), who produced a fighting victory to claim
his first stakes win and SNITZEL's 45th Stakes Winner.
The Ken Keys-trained galloper was ridden perfectly in front and despite being eyeballed by SA Derby placegetter Cool Chap in the straight, the son of Snitzel fought back on the fence to get the photo in a bobbing finish.
Winning trainer Keys, runner-up in the 2014 Cup with Lightenuff, said keeping First Course fresh for the race was key.
"We took a bit of a punt - we gave him a freshen up since August," Keys said after winning the $150,000 feature.
"He loves Sale, he loves the wet, so the Gods were good to us.
"He's a horse who's gone through his career running a lot of seconds, and now he's won himself a decent one.
"He had a stint up in Darwin which didn't go very well.
"Then we gave him a genuine 12-month break, and that has extended his career."