Since winning the Group II Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick 12 months ago, the Mark Newnham-trained Splintex has fallen short in six starts against some of the best sprinters in training.
The 4yo son of Snitzel found the perfect spot to find the winners stall again in Saturday’s Group III TAB Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Ridden by Josh Parr, Splintex repelled the challenge of Rainier (Lonhro) by a half-length with the same distance back to Victorem (I Am Invincible) in third.
A 4yo entire Splintex advances his record to six wins and three thirds from 16 starts with earnings of $905,000.
“He has just run in a few races that he hasn’t had much luck in, or they’ve been at Group 1 level and he’s just fallen a little bit short,” Newnham said.
“But his two runs this time in have been good enough. He didn’t have a lot of luck first up and then he drew the outside in the Galaxy and 1100 at Rosehill, it doesn’t give you much chance when you draw out there.
“It’s really good to get a win today, especially for Geoff and Mary Grimish. Anzac Day means a lot to Geoff and on the eve of Anzac Day, it’s a really important win for Geoff.”
Splintex is a half-brother to the Listed winner Invictus Salute (Exceed and Excel) and the stakes-placed Acqume (Sepoy) out of the O’Reilly mare Acquired.
A 7-time winner and runner-up in the Group II BRC Dane Ripper Stakes, Acquired is a half-sister to Coolmore’s exceptional broodmare Hips Don’t Lie (Stravinsky).
Purchased for $430,000 at the 2011 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Acquired was sold to Highgrove Stud for $450,000 at the 2019 Chairman’s Sale when carrying a filly by Not A Single Doubt who sadly died after birth.
Acquired has a weanling colt by The Autumn Sun and was bred back to Snitzel last spring.
