Not content with a stakes double at Randwick on Saturday, Arrowfield Stud sire Snitzel did it all over again in Canberra on Sunday.

Snitzel’s 2yo colt Trapeze Artist scored a three-length victory in the G3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) to advance his claims for the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on April 1.

“He’s always had the talent,” trainer Gerald Ryan said.  “He went really good the other day and I knew he would be really, really hard to beat with the addition of blinkers.  We have not left him in the Golden Slipper – his main aims have always been the Sires’ and the Champagne Stakes.”

Trapeze Artist is the first winner out of Treppes (Domesday), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Crawl, and he was retained by breeder Bert Vieira after being passed-in at last year’s Inglis Easter Sale.

Remarkably, Ryan has now trained 11 stakes winners by his former stable star Snitzel:  Snitzerland, Flying Snitzel, Hot Snitzel, Perignon, Spill The Beans, Time For War, Dances On Stars, Fireworks, Trapeze Artist, Samantha & Ygritte.

Dark Eyes notched Snitzel’s second-leg on Sunday with a narrow victory in the LR Canberra Cup (2000m).  He was bred by Warringah Stud and was a $68,000 buy for Darby Racing.

The national capital double followed Snitzel’s stakes brace at Randwick on Saturday with Samantha (LR Fireball Stakes) and Elle Lou (G3 Aspiration Quality).

Snitzel’s stakes double-double was backed up by another eight stakes performers in four countries over the weekend:  Invader & Redzel (Randwick), Snitzson (Flemington), Muraaqeb (Canberra), Spoils (Morphettville), Royal Fashion (Ellerslie), Heavenly Blue (Turffontein) and Wimbledon (Singapore).

With 21 stakes winners already on board this season, Snitzel career stats now feature 56 stakes winners and he holds a $600,000 lead over Fastnet Rock on the Australian sires’ premiership.

TRAPEZE ARTIST
Photo / Bronwen Healy