Snitzel’s electrifying son Switzerland left no excuses for his rivals in the $2 million VRC Coolmore Stud S. 1200m G1 on Derby Day at Flemington, rocketing clear to score by 2.75 lengths in 1:08.30.
The star sprinting colt is the 21st Group 1 winner for his magnificent Champion Sire and Arrowfield’s 5th graduate Group 1 winner this year, after Private Life (Caulfield Guineas), Snitzel’s daughter Lady Shenandoah (Flight Stakes), Autumn Angel (Australian Oaks) & Celestial Legend (Randwick Guineas & Doncaster Mile).
Winner of the Todman S. G2 last season, Switzerland travelled to Melbourne after a strong Roman Consul S. G2 victory at Rosehill on 12 October. He has now won 5 of his 7 starts and joins Snitzel’s lengthy list of millionaire progeny with career earnings of $1.8 million.
Chris Waller said, “He became a man last start I thought with a dominant win and the writing was on the wall that a Group 1 wasn’t far away. To win a stallion-making race like this, it’s a big deal.
“He’s worth a lot of money as he’s done it at two and he’s done it at three, he’s well on the way to being something special.”
Jockey James McDonald was not remotely surprised by the colt’s performance and looks ahead to next year’s Lightning Stakes & Newmarket Handicap. “He’s been promising to do that. He’s an absolute star. He makes a jockey’s life so easy. He’s such a talented colt, he’s got gears to turn and after his jumpout here the other day, we were cooking with gas, he went super.”
“He’s got all the attributes to be a top sprinter. There are two races here in the autumn that have got a big circle around him. He’ll thicken up, he’ll develop, he’ll get stronger and better – he’s a beauty.”
Bred by Arrowfield and Matt & Jo Cloros’ Cloros Bloodstock, Switzerland is the first foal of the US Grade 3 winner Ms Bad Behavior (by noted broodmare sire Blame) who was a US$600,000 purchase by Arrowfield’s Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer from the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.
She soon justified that outlay with the yearling Switzerland, purchased by Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $1.5 million from Arrowfield at Inglis Easter 2023.
Interviewed by The Thoroughbred Report in November 2023, Jon recalled, “He was a beautiful colt all the way through and he was our highest-priced seller for the year. He is a classic Snitzel type, not all that big but strong with tremendous movement.”
Ms Bad Behavior has behaved perfectly as a broodmare, producing three younger full brothers to Switzerland in as many years and she has returned to Snitzel this Spring.
Snitzel has now posted 9 winners of 11 Australian Group & Listed Races so far this season, and holds a clear lead by those measures on the current Australian General Sires’ Premiership.
Switzerland and Makarena (who picked up $500,000 for her Golden Eagle 4th) have boosted Snitzel’s season prizemoney to $7.9 million, elevating him into fourth spot on the earnings Premiership.
– Arrowfield Stud
