Arrowfield Stud boss John Messara watched proudly as Snitzel started his second-last season as a stallion with half a dozen million-dollar babies, but it might be South Australian trainer, Michael Hickmott, who found the bargains of the Magic Millions Sale.
While Snitzels averaged more than $688,000 and topped the sale for gross by a stallion, Hickmott walked away with a $100,000 colt and a $65,000 filly, which will be a ladies’ syndicate horse, from the four-time Australian champion sire.
“They are both nice horses that passed our vet checks and fit into our price range,” Hickmott’s client manager and nephew, Josh Hickmott, said.
“We probably had twice the money for both of them.”
“To be fair the Resilient Miss colt [which is a three-quarter brother to Thousand Guineas winner Yearning] is probably going to need a bit more time, but the Perceptive filly we’re going to try to be back here for the ladies’ bonus next year.”
“We are buying the best stallion at very good prices.”
Snitzel died last June at 23, after being a Group 1 winner on the track in the 2006 Oakleigh Plate and superstar off it producing three Golden Slipper winners, two-time Everest victor Redzel and Cox Plate winner Shamus Award among his 24 Group 1 winners.
He has been the brightest star at Arrowfield for the past two decades and his career is set to finish with a bang.
“There is a scarcity of them left now,” Arrowfield boss Messara said. “But I have to say there were some really nice ones here at Magic Millions.”
“It is sad in a way, but it is his legacy now that people see his quality and want his stock.”
It was a big week for Snitzel, he had highest-priced filly of the sale, $1.6 million paid by Hermitage for the filly, ex-Madame Andree, making her a sister to recent Gosford Guineas winner Caffe Florian.
On the track, Snitzanova won the Magic Millions Subzero to take Snitzel back to the top of the stallions’ standings for this season.
“He just keeps doing it and it is why the buyers keep buying his stock,” Messara said.
