History shows the great sire dynasties of the world wax and wane over time, so for breeders that can identify the right sire going forward the rewards can be huge and in some cases life changing.
When Snitzel was crowned Champion Australian Sire for 2025/2026 winning the title for the fifth time, he entered some rarified company as only three stallions have ever won more titles and they are Danehill (USA) (9 times), Sir Tristram (IRE) (6) and Heroic (7), but can Snitzel pay that success forward?
The passing last year of Snitzel has put the spotlight on his sire sons and of those that are established - Shamus Award, Russian Revolution and Trapeze Artist are the best of them, but none of that trio will ever rival their sire.
Rosemont Stud’s Cox Plate winning son Shamus Award has proved a surprise source of elite stamina with six G1 winners to his credit and is priced at $33,000, while Russian Revolution has sired three G1 winners and is at the same fee at Newgate.
Trapeze Artist has two G1 winners and has settled into his niche at Widden Stud at a fee of $27,500.
There are now some 30 odd sons of Snitzel at stud in Australia covering a wide spectrum of service fees and the big question is can any of them rise to the lofty standards set by their illustrious sire, his sire Redoute’s Choice and in turn his sire Danehill (USA).
Are we seeing the gradual dissipation of this potent sireline or can one of these young Snitzel sons carry this branch of the Danehill line forward?
Arrowfield Stud, whose fingerprints are all over this sireline, do not stand a single son of Snitzel on their roster in 2026 and have instead backed another Redoute’s Choice son, The Autumn Sun as their best shot of keeping the sireline alive and commercial.
Of the fledgling Snitzel sons, Wild Ruler has made an encouraging start with his first 2YO’s for Newgate and stands at a fee of $27,500, while they have also bet on Autumn Glow’s half-brother In The Congo, who will have his first runners this season and stands at $22,000.
Coolmore have invested heavily on Snitzel and have three sons on the roster.
Group II winner Best of Bordeaux will have his first runners this season and stands at just $11,000, while Golden Slipper winner Shinzo will have his first yearlings sell in 2027 and stands at $49,500.
Switzerland is the most expensive of the Coolmore trio priced at $55,000 and will have his first foals this year with his outcross US female family injecting some diverse bloodlines into the mix.
Going back in time that was a winning recipe for champion sire Exceed and Excel (Danehill (USA) and the time might be right for that mix to hit the target again.
Across the Tasman in New Zealand, Cambridge Stud are also on board with an elite son of Snitzel and stand Sword of State, who is priced at $50,000 this year off his super first season results with star runners including Australian stakes-winners Warwoven and Torture.
Waikato Stud have also jumped on the bandwagon and are standing Group I winning 2YO Return to Conquer for the first time this spring at $15,000.
The Snitzel sire production line is in overdrive with two Group I winning 2YO colts last season in Campione D’Italia (Newgate), Fireball (James Harron Bloodstock), plus Switzerland’s G3 winning brother St Gotthard (Coolmore) and stakes-winner The Next Episode (Widden and partners).
The next generation is also poised to pounce as Snitzel has over 60 entries for the 2027 Golden Slipper and they include seven colts that sold for $1million or more.
