A field of eight 3-year-olds put their autumn aspirations on the line in Saturday’s $300,000 Group II Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes at Caulfield, and Snow Patrol and Southport Tycoon singled out for a stirring finish.
Ridden by Mark Zahra for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Snow Patrol peeled off the back of Southport Tycoon on straightening. Making his first start in 19 weeks, the son of Contributer (IRE) did not flinck h in defeating the honest Written Tycoon colt Southport Tycoon by a short-half-head with the top-class Western Australian visitor Zipaway (Playing God) two and a half lengths back in third.
After leaving the ring unsold when offered by Haunui Farm in Book 2 of the NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, Snow Patrol was a $170,000 purchase for Mick Price Racing and Breeding from the Lilywhites Lodge draft at the 2022 NZB Ready To Run Sale.
The lightly raced Ace Bloodstock colour-bearer advances his record to two wins and a third from five starts with earnings of $218,790.
“We knew he was going really well but we left plenty in the tank,” Kent Jnr said.
“I’m delighted for all the boys, I want to dedicate the win to Tim Mangan, his son Darcy and Tim got Ace Bloodstock going, we lost Tim earlier in the year who was in (I’m) Thunderstruck… rapt for all the boys, they’re awesome guys to be in a horse with and it’s a really big win.
“The second horse really kicked back and made it tough for him and he just fought it out, he’s got three weeks now to the Guineas, that’s ideal.
“Being by that stallion (Contributer), we hope he’ll get 2000 metres. Why wouldn’t he? a big strong, clean winded, sound horse, the race worked out beautifully, the pace was on, how good’s Mark Zahra? He can go enjoy the NFL on Monday.”
Snow Patrol is the first foal of the unraced O'Reilly mare O'Rocker a granddaughter of dual Group III winner Bhandara (NZ) from the family of Sharvasti and Tourbillion Diamond.
Sadly, O'Rocker died after producing one more foal, a 2-year-old Sweynesse colt named Beautiful Chicago.
Snow Patrol is the ninth stakes-winner for Mapperley Stud's High Chaparral stallion Contributer (IRE)
