Snitzel colt Sizzling produced a paralysing finish to win the G2 Champagne Classic at Doomben on Saturday.  Queensland’s latest pin-up came from the clouds to collar Darley colt Academus to score by a short head over 1200m.

Sizzling (2c Snitzel – Admirelle by General Nediym) had won the LR Ken Russell Memorial at the Gold Coast a fortnight ago and trainer Kelso Wood said the colt will now be aimed at the G2 Qld Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and G1 T.J. Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm next month.

“I’m really excited about trying him over 1400 metres – it will be right up his alley,” Wood said.  “Then he will go on to the T J Smith.”

Sizzling was bred by John Muir at Milburn Creek Thoroughbreds and was a $260,000 purchase for agent John Foote at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions.

The Champagne Classic was the latest feature for Arrowfield sire Snitzel this week.  Miss Milanese started the winning run with a first-up victory in the Mitavite Malaysia Plate (1250m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Miss Milanese (3f Snitzel – Miss Kournikova by Mr. Greeley) is raced by Bob Ingham and had shown ability behind stakes winning fillies Sea Siren and Angel of Mercy during her first prep.  A $460,000 graduate from Arrowfield Stud at the 2010 Inglis Easter yearling sale, she is from G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Miss Kournikova.

Talented filly Tinszelda led home a Snitzel quinella in the $100,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge (1100m) at Scone on Friday.  Prepared locally by Rod Northam, she scored by three lengths from the Gerald Ryan trained Centrepet.

Tinszelda (2f Snitzel – Kirby’s Song by Sultry Song) was also bred and sold by Arrowfield for a bargain priced $19,000 at the 2011 HTBA Scone yearling sale.  ‘”She was turned out in front but side on looked beautiful,” Northam recalled.  “Her dam was a Group 1 winner in Canada and she is by Snitzel.  They don’t come that cheap.”

Tinszelda is now unbeaten in three starts and Northam is considering sending her to Brisbane for a black-type race over the winter carnival.

For an encore, Snitzel’s Perth based gelding Checkpoint scored a determined victory in the Westralian Diamond Drillers Hcp (1200m) at Belmont on Saturday.

Checkpoint (3g Snitzel – Kelcheck by Keltrice) was trapped three wide but was a class above the opposition.  Trainer Neville Parnham predicted the lightly raced galloper will develop into a serious candidate for the Perth Summer Festival later this year.

“He required an operation earlier in his career and that’s why we’ve been so patient with him,” Parnham revealed.  “He hasn’t had a lame day since the surgery and I believe he’s got a big future.”

Checkpoint was a $70,000 buy for Parnham from the Avoca Park draft at the 2010 Perth Magic Millions.  He’s the first live for Kelcheck who won three sprints in Melbourne for trainer Tony Noonan.

Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) will stand at $33,000 (inc gst) fee at Arrowfield this year.

SIZZLING