Can Coolmore make it two Golden Slippers in a row with a blue-blood son of Snitzel?
Twelve months, almost to the day after Shinzo made his career debut with a third in the Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill, Switzerland made a belated debut over 1000m in the Join ATC Membership Hcp at Randwick.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy for Chris Waller, Switzerland had his ears scrubbed off early to take advantage of an inside barrier. He settled third on the fence behind the heavily backed Russian Revolution debutant Russian Roulette.
Switching outside heels on straightening, Switzerland quickened impressively, putting the race to bed at the 200m for a two-and-three-quarter-length score.
The Capitalist filly Castanya battled on for second ahead of the Pierata debutant Bella Khadijah, who outperformed her odds of $301.
A $1,500,000 purchase for Tom Magnier from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Switzerland, flagged his ability in two barrier trials, where he was never let off the leash with plenty to offer.
Bookmakers were impressed enough to shorten Switzerland to the third line of betting for the Golden Slipper, which is dominated by the unbeaten Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy.
“He came here like he has been here a few times before. He may have been a bit too relaxed going into the gates,” stable representative Damien Fitton said.
“He wasn’t sharp out of the gates, so Kerrin had to rive him up to hold that spot, which was the winning move. He found the leader’s back, and he shot through like a nice horse when he got the gap.
“He hasn’t really filled out his frame yet, and I’m sure the Coolmore group will have a lot of fun with him.”
Switzerland is the first foal of the high-class Blame (USA) mare Ms Bad Behavior (CAN), a US$600,000 buy for Freyer Bloodstock at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.
A 3-time winner and placed in eight of her 14 starts while banking over $500,000, Ms Bad Behavior (CAN) was a Grade III winner at Kentucky Downs, and all eight placings came in stakes races.
A half-sister to stakes-winners One Bad Boy and Blessed Truly, Ms Bad Behavior (CAN) has a brother to Switzerland in the Arrowfield Stud draft at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in April (lot 170).
After foaling her third consecutive Snitzel colt on October 1, Ms Bad Behavior (CAN) revisited the champion son of Redoude’s Choice.
