After Coolmore’s $875,000 I Am Invincible colt Home Affairs captured the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2021, it was the turn of the $1,500,000 Snitzel colt Switzerland to do the sponsor proud in the $2,000,000 Group 1 feature at Flemington on Saturday.
Ridden by James McDonald for Chris Waller, Switzerland jumped a length in front before finding a spot on the back of race favourite Growing Empire.
Still under a double handful at the 300m, McDonald released the brakes and the son of Snitzel bounded clear to defeat the honest Star Witness filly Bellatrix Star by two and three-quarter lengths with a short-neck back to the dead-heaters, the Zoustar colt Growing Empire and the Written Tycoon filly Lady Of Camelot in third.
With his Group 1 breakthrough, Switzerland advances his record to five wins from seven starts with earnings of $1,823,025.
Waller said getting the high-priced yearling back on track was a relief after opening his campaign with a disappointing last in the Run Tio The Rose before winning the Roman Consul.
"We've got a great team that got us back on the track," Waller said.
"He just got excited and hurt himself and got agitated. It was just one of those things that young kids do.
"That's all he is. He's a young teenager, he's finding his way, became a man last start. I thought the writing was on the wall that a Group One wasn' t far away, to win a stallion making a race like this, it's a big deal.
"For the colts, this is the race you need to win. So I'm privileged to be training these types of horses because I didn't get them when I started, but now it's a privilege.
"I could see he jumped well, he settled well, James was just sitting on it quietly and that was the pre-race plan. Be where he's comfortable. It was as simple as that.
"Well, the beauty of winning a Group One race, it takes a little bit of pressure off. We've got to just now maintain his value, so logically, races like the Newmarket and Royal Ascot would be in our consideration."
James McDonald believes Switzerland has more to offer.
"This is one of the nicest colts I've sat on for a while. He's been promising to do that.
"He'd come out so alertly. Mind was straight on the job, and I'm absolutely delighted for him, delighted for the connections, and I've got an absolute star colt on my hands."
A magnificent physical specimen, Switzerland was a $1,500,000 purchase by Tom Magnier from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
He 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) is a daughter of the honest Stormy Atlantic mare Cumulonimble who rarely failed to pick up a cheque with eight wins and eight places from 20 starts with career highlights came when winnings of the Listed Lincoln Heritage Hcp at Arlington Park.
Tony Fung's TFI Racing had the final say at $550,000 for a brother to Switzerland at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Ms Bad Behavior (CAN) has been married to Snitzel for the first five years, resulting in five colts.
Switzerland is the 21st Group 1 winner for Arrowfield Stud's Snitzel.
