Coming off a pair of G2 victories, the Chris Waller trained Snitzel mare Lazzura added a third G2 in as many starts as the 5yo toughed it out right to the line to win the $500,000 G2 ATC Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Starting the dominant short-priced favourite as expected, Tommy Berry settled the mare in second position behind the Chris and Corey Munce trained Gerringong, a last start winner of the G3 ATC Nivison Stakes.
Lazzura’s stablemate Surf’s Up had settled in third while Peter Snowden’s So You Think (NZ) mare Tuileries was getting a good trail in fourth.
With Nash Rawiller maintaining a good gallop aboard Gerringong, the 5yo Blue Point (IRE) mare took the field into the home straight where she tired to kick.
For a fleeting moment it looked as if Lazzura was struggling, but Berry got the best out of the B2B Thoroughbreds owned mare as she chased hard, getting her had in front to score a narrow, but decisive half-neck victory.
The winner’s stablemate Surf’s Up held on for third some two and a quarter lengths away.
A real battle in the Hot Danish - and Lazzura gets there! ?? @cwallerracing @aus_turf_club @B2BThoroughbred https://t.co/MAIVPmzfGt
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 7, 2026
Stable rep Darren Beadman comments was extremely complimentary on the mare’s form.
“She has been in scintillating form,” said Beadman. “She takes all the guess work out of it with her style of racing, she puts herself there.”
“The 1400m is about as far as she wants, she hit her sweet spot today. She had to do a bit of work last start when she won The Invitation but today it was pure grit and determination.”
“For Ricky Senior and Junior and the Surace family, they put a lot of effort into their horses, what they are searching for and what they breed, so it is a great result.’’
“It wasn’t a gimme. When the other horse came out of the race, the likely leader, Tommy was able to get there a lot softer than last start when he won The Invitation on her.”
“He ‘curled his mo’, kept his cool, and 1400m is about as far as she wants. It was a tidy effort. She’s a Group 1 winner and meeting those horses at level weights, she was thrown in at the weight.”
“It was a nice win and Surf’s Up getting stakes placed, picked up some black type, too. Lazzura has done a tremendous job and deserves a break now, and Chris will get her ready for the autumn.’’
Backing up on the mare after winning on her last start, Berry knew the quality he had underneath him.
“We had it very easy for the first half,” said Berry. “We went across the line and Nash says ‘that was a good race because we had to fight the whole way down the straight.’”
“The margin doesn’t reflect the performance, but the time does [32.9]. We quickened up really well from the 600m, I put in a good kick at the 400m and the 200m. And Nash just stuck with me from there. His is a very good filly on her day.
“Any horse with class can run up a quick 600m if you get an easy time. She has done it well. Would have enjoyed a bit more give in the track than what is there today. She is a winner and that is what she does.”
Taking her earnings to $3,424,760 from nine wins and six placed efforts from 21 starts, the daughter of Snitzel was a $500,000 purchase by B2B Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd from the draft of Arrowfield Stud.
Lazzura is the best of three winners from four to the races out of the Heart's Cry (Jpn) mare Laguna Azzurra (Jpn), who foaled a colt by Kia Ora Stud’s Farnan last spring and is due to foal this spring G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland.
It was no surprise to see B2B go to $1.8m to secure Laguna Azzurra’s current 2yo when offered earlier this year at the Inglis Easter yearling sale. Named Tavolara, the full-sister to Lazzura is yet to race and is also in the care of Chris Waller.
Lazzura is one of 178 stakes winners for the former Arrowfield Stud-based, multiple Champion Sire Snitzel.
