A winner at Ipswich when making his seasonal debut on September 23, Snitzkraft came off a letup for an emotional maiden stakes win in Saturday’s Listed Falvelon Quality (1100m) at Doomben.
A first for the training partnership of Kelso Wood and Patricia Gesler, Snitzkraft held off the fast-finishing Irish Constabulary (Flying Spur) by a neck with Havasay (Rothesay) three-quarter of a length back in third.
Wood and Gesler were both in tears as Larry Cassidy brought the 3yo son of Snitzel back to scale.
"It has been the worst two years of my life. I nearly died twice this year and it has been a long ride back from illness," Wood told AAP.
"But one thing that has kept me going is this horse. When you have a horse as good as him it is something to live for."
"We missed running him as a two-year-old at the Millions but we have got a wildcard now and he will be a real chance."
Gesler said the win was a fillip for the whole stable.
"I am glad for the owners, I am glad for the horse but it is great for Kelso,' she said.
The win advances the record of Snitzkraft to 4 wins, 1 second and 1third from 8 starts with earnings of $227,300 but just as importantly earns him a wild card into the $1million Magic Millions Snippets Hcp (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 13.
Raced by a syndicate including his breeder Mick Power and AFL legend Leigh Matthews, Snitzkraft wasn’t paid up for the series after failing to meet his $300000 reserve when offered by Arrowfield Stud at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the second foal of the 5-time winning O’Reilly mare Power O’Raylee a half-sister to stakes-winner Moveovre from the family of NZ Horse Of The Year Uncle Remus.
Power O’Raylee has an unraced 2yo colt by Dundeel named Proven Power, a yearling filly by Sizzling and foaled a Dundeel filly on August 22.
Snitzkraft becomes the 76th stakes winner for Snitzel (pictured ) who has 47 yearlings catalogued for the Magic Millions, 3 lots at the Inglis Classic and 8 at the Inglis Premier.
