Snitzel Dancer lived up to the confidence placed in her by trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou by securing her initial stakes success in the Group 3 $250,000 James HB Carr Stakes (1400m).
Ryan confessed to being baffled by Snitzel Dancer’s performances in her two initial Warwick Farm outings that kicked off her preparation.
However, following a strong victory at Hawkesbury, Ryan and Alexiou aimed for the Carr Stakes.
“This filly shows us a lot at home so we couldn’t work out what happened in those two Warwick Farm runs,” Ryan said.
“It’s possible she just doesn’t like Warwick Farm because she was back to her best at Hawkesbury.
“I know she was big odds today but we were confident she would run very well. I told the owners she would finish top three.”
The $21 chance Snitzel Dancer, under Kerrin McEvoy, closed with power to score by close to a length over the brave favourite Plaintiff ($2.15), who coped with a wide trip but stayed covered and ran a solid second, as Karinska ($7.50) was blocked before surging late to be half a length back in third.
Ryan noted that Snitzel Dancer has booked her spot among the stable’s Brisbane winter carnival runners, targeting the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
“We will go to perhaps the Guineas against the boys or the Bracelet on the Gold Coast, because I’ve always believed this filly will run 2000 metres.
“The Oaks is only 2200m, but we’ll just see how she’s going. We won’t stretch her too far.
“It’s good to see her live up to what she’s shown all the way along.”
McEvoy believes Snitzel Dancer can stretch out over greater distances.
“She hit the line strongly late and will get 1600m at least,” McEvoy said.
“I think she’ll stay further because she’s such a nice attitude. She’ll keep developing and no doubt strengthen a bit more.
“If Gerald and Sterling want to head towards the Oaks, then it’s worth a try because she’s a promising filly who is only going to get better.”
Plaintiff sought her fifth consecutive victory and jockey Jordan Childs was pleased with her effort.
“She has gone extremely well,” Childs said.
“We had a nice run in transit, got into the three wide moving line and travelled up like the winner. “She probably just didn’t quicken up as good as she did the other day, being fresh. This was her first go 1400m I thought it was a good run.”
Explore the racing betting markets on Australian betting sites for upcoming stakes action.
