Snow Patrol (NZ) Stars in Autumn Stakes

Snow Patrol (NZ) (Contributer) scored a stirring win in Saturday’s A$300,000 Group Two Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, becoming the fourth individual stakes winner to come out of the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.

Snow Patrol was a $170,000 purchase from that year’s Ready to Run Sale, which has also produced Listed winners Solidify (NZ) (Redwood), Dolphin Skin (NZ) (Telperion), Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) and three other black-type performers to date. Snow Patrol has had just four starts for two wins, a placing and A$218,790 in stakes.

Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Snow Patrol had to win a tough battle to earn his Group Two triumph on Saturday. After racing in midfield, he lodged his claim at the home turn and went to war with hot favourite Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon). That pair drew away from the rest of the field and fought a desperate duel to the line, which Snow Patrol won by a nose.

“The plan was to follow Southport Tycoon everywhere he went, and I did,” Zahra said. “He was travelling really strongly and I thought if I waited for him to kick, I wouldn’t be able to pick him up.

“Mick Price and Junior always have their horse fit, even first-up, so I opted to rush him a bit at the top of the straight and it became a two-horse war. There was nothing in it, but it was a great battle and I just got the head over the line at the right time. I think he will improve a lot from that too.”

Saturday’s Group Two win delivered a milestone result for syndicators Ace Bloodstock.

“It’s our first stakes win,” director Chris Fraraccio said. “Ace Bloodstrock has been around for about a year and a half. It is a group of mates – me, Darcy Mangan and Rob Colaneri. We really focus on bloodstock from New Zealand and this guy came out of the Ready To Run Sale at Karaka. We have about 15 on the books now.”

Kent suggested that next month’s Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington is a likely target for Snow Patrol.

“We knew he was going really, well but we left plenty in the tank and I’m delighted for all the Ace Bloodstock boys,” he said.

“I’d like to dedicate the win to Tim Mangan, who along with his son Darcy got Ace Bloodstock going. We lost Tim last year, he was in I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking), and I’m rapt for all the boys. They are awesome guys to be in a horse with and it is a really big win.

“I was taken with his last 100 metres, where the second horse really kicked back and made it tough for him and he just fought it out. We have got three weeks now until the Guineas, which is ideal.

“Being by Contributer, we hope he will get out to 2000 metres. Why wouldn’t he? He’s a big, strong clean-winded sound horse and the race worked out beautifully for him.”

Vendor	Karaka 2022: Haunui FarmReady to Run Sale: Lilywhites Lodge
Purchaser	Mick Price Racing and Breeding (Victoria)
Breeding	Contributer – O’Rocker
Sale	Lot 961, Karaka 2022 Book 2, Psd (Res $50,000)Lot 197, 2022 Ready to Run Sale, $170,000
Bred by	B S, M J & Mrs R L Wallbank