Snitzel debutant Sandpaper denied a first Australian winner for the Coolmore first crop stallions Caravaggio (USA) and Churchill (IRE) courtesy of a fearless Hugh Bowman ride in a 1250m 2yo maiden at Canterbury on Friday.
It could have quickly gone pear-shaped for Bowman, who was trapped in a zip-fastener pocket on the Godolphin runner in the 5-horse field. He found a narrow seam along the rail, and Sandpaper did not flinch. The son of Snitzel defeated the front-running Caravaggio (USA) colt Great Siege by three-quarters of a length with a further short-head back to the heavily supported Churchill (IRE) colt Robusto in third.
A Godolphin homebred, Sandpaper is the first foal of the unraced Lonhro mare Smooth, a sister to the champion Pierro. The global superpower famously sold Pierro as a weanling when pinhooked by Musk Creek Farm for $115,000.
All was not lost for Godolphin as Pierro’s half-sister Ambience (Street Cry) won the Group II VRC Wakeful Stakes and Listed ATC Dulcify Quality Handicap.
Smooth never made it to the races after three barrier trials.The daughter of Lonhro missed to Snitzel in 2019, but she foaled an Exceed And Excel filly last spring before visiting Godolphin’s triple Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath (IRE) (Dubawi).
Sandpaper is the fourth 2yo winner of the season for Arrowfield Stud’s flagship stallion Snitzel.
