YGRITTE delivered a perfectly timed reminder just how good the SNITZEL progeny are ahead of the Easter Sale when she proved too strong despite a wide trip.
Being trapped deep certainly wasn’t going to be enough to stop the Gerald Ryan-trained Ygritte from capturing much overdue valuable black type with a gutsy win in Thursday’s Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m).
Jockey Tim Clark was caught three and four wide in the dawdling run affair but was able to keep his mount happy and balanced before commencing a run from the 500 metre mark.
The leader and favourite Meusault was swamped inside the final 100 metres and it was Ygritte charging down the centre of the track, finishing a length clear of Godolphin’s Federal (another Stakes horse by the hugely impressive Medaglia D’oro from a Danehill line mare) whilst Onemorezeta crossed the line third, beaten a further 1-1/4 lengths.
Blake Ryan, foreman for the Ryan stable, was full of praise for Ygritte.
"A really game win, they didn’t go that quick in the race which helped,” Ryan told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
"She’s won $200,000 so she really deserved to win a decent race.
"Tim (Clark) didn’t panic when he was out there, got rolling 500 (metres) out and she’s racing now like she’s looking for 1400 (metres) which helped her and with a bit of juice in the track she’s a different filly.”
The 3YO filly, trained by Gerald Ryan for owner Carl Holt, is the 30th career Stakes Winner for Snitzel, who currently sits in position five (5) on the current Australian General Sires' list with $5.2 million prizemoney.
His nine (9) Australian Stakes Winners this season include two Group 1 winners WANDJINA and SWEET IDEA, both of these were trained by Gai.
Ygritte was purchased for $135,000 from Arrowfield's draft at the 2013 Inglis Classic Sale.
Although the Gosford Guineas is only Ygritte's second win, her 11-start record includes five Group 3 placings behind top-class horses Hallowed Crown, Mossfun and Eloping.
She will tackle Group 3 company again at her likely next start, in the ATC J.H.B. Carr Stakes on 18 April.
Ygritte is one of several quality fillies in her immediate family. Ygritte's second dam is the three-time Group 1 winner and New Zealand Horse of the Year Tycoon Lil.
Gerald Ryan has raced 55 progeny by Snitzel for a massive 33 individual winners.
He certainly is the KING of the SNITZEL’s.