Aided by a copybook ride by Jye McNeil, the Snitzel colt Brosnan appreciated a drop back in grade to break his maiden in the Donate @ Njt Org Au Hcp (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Brosnan was competitive in the Group II Skyline Stakes, Group II VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, and Group 1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes in his first three starts.
Given the run of the race by McNiel, Brosnan tracked the leader Lethal Thoughts in the early stages. Eased out to mount his challenge after rounding the home turn, Brosnan took an uncomfortably long time to level up to a stubborn Lethal Thoughts before holding the late challenge of the Rebel Dane filly Anphina by a long neck. The So You Think colt Lethal Thoughts was a long head back in third.
Coincidently Snitzel is chasing Rebel Dane for Champion 2yo Sire honours.
“One benefit of jumping better than he has been in the past in a race where there wasn’t much speed is we found ourselves closer to the front,” McNeil said.
“He was travelling comfortably, and through being closer in the run and being a little bit of a class above, he found the front at an early stage and had a really good stargaze.”
“When he sensed the other horse challenging him, he came again with another run and fought them off, but I don’t believe we got to the bottom of him today.
“He was a class above there and probably would’ve been better off a couple of lengths further back and really chasing at them over the final stages, but hopefully he can gain confidence today and go to another level.”
A rare grey son of Snitzel, Brosnan was consigned by his breeder Newhaven Park Stud to the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Kitchwin Hills having the final say at $1,050,000.
Brosnan is the second foal and first winner for the accomplished Domesday mare Supara.
Though she won just one of her 14 starts for Gai Waterhouse, Supara had several notable performances. She finished second to First Seal in the Group II ATC Surround Stakes, third behind Winx and Hauraki in the Group II Peter Pan Stakes, and was runner-up in the Group II Emancipation Stakes at her career finale. (learn more about the breeding of Brosnan here)
New Zealander David Ellis bought a Written Tycoon filly out of Supara for $800,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The daughter of Domesday has a weanling Capitalist filly and visited Ole Kirk last spring.
Brosnan is the 13th 2yo winner of the season for Arrowfield stud’s champion Snitzel.
