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In The Congo steps up in the San Domenico and Bruckner wins the McNeil
Arrowfield’s Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) added two new stakes winners on Saturday, his first two of the new season, taking his total stakes tally to 112.
At Kembla Grange, the San Domenico (Gr 3, 1100m) was won by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained In The Congo (3 c ex Via Africa by Var). The Newgate Bloodstock and China Horse Club-raced colt led throughout and held off Paulele (Dawn Approach), the Godolphin-trained favourite, to score by a neck. Capitvant (Capitalist), who was having his seasonal debut, finished another head away in third.
Adrian Bott, co-trainer of In The Congo, feels sprinting is the colt's forte and the stable plans to aim him towards the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington during the spring carnival.
"I'll have a chat with (managing owner) Henry Field and the connections and map out a plan," Bott said.
"I'd like to keep him to the sprint distances. He's just an out-and-out speed horse, I feel.
"He may stay up here for a race like the Roman Consul, with the Coolmore being the ultimate aim."
Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) disappointed in finishing fifth, beaten just over two lengths and jockey Tommy Berry told stewards he may have struggled on the shifty track.
"He was a bit disappointing," Berry said.
"This track is a bit shifty, he hasn't been on that sort of ground before so maybe he just didn't enjoy that because on what he's shown us at home and in his trials, I thought he'd give this race a real shake."
In The Congo was bought by China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock for $350,000 from the draft of Newhaven Park at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
He is out of the three-time South African Grade One winner Via Africa (Var), twice the winner of the South African Fillies Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m). Via Africa’s Vancouver (Medaglia d’Oro) filly was bought for $260,000 by Ryan Bloodstock at this year’s Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Bruckner also Coolmore Stud Stakes bound
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Bruckner (3 c ex Jestajingle by Lonhro) had the first of his three career starts in New South Wales and the decision to bring him to Melbourne for Saturday's H D F McNeil Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) paid off with the son of Snitzel recording his first stakes victory.
Bruckner had only won a Kembla Grange maiden in those three starts prior to Saturday's success, but Maher has always held the son of Snitzel in high regard and he also looks set to be aimed at the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
"We were going towards the Ming Dynasty over 1400 (metres in Sydney) but I just thought the 1400 might have been a bridge too far at the moment," Maher said.
"So, we opted to bring him down here and he actually galloped with Generation on the course proper here on Tuesday.
"I took a line through General Beau there. I thought he was right in the race, and he was going to get the right run on paper.
"Thankfully it all went to plan."
Allen was the recipient of being the replacement aboard Bruckner following Jamie Kah's three-month suspension on Friday by Racing Victoria stewards for a COVID breach.
He said Bruckner would get out in trip once he learns to relax, but for the moment is best kept to short trips.
"He was just a little but fierce early but once we got in behind he relaxed nicely," Allen said.
"Artorius was hitting the line outside him but I had the head down at the right time."
Bruckner was bought for a sale-topping $725,000 by Aquis Farm and Ciaron Maher Racing from the draft of Blue Gum Farm at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. He is the first foal out of the dual winning Lonhro (Octagonal) mare Jestajingle, herself the daughter of Listed winner Jestatune (Rory’s Jester), the dam of another Group winning son of Snitzel in Jukebox.
Snitzel’s 2021 fee is set at $165,000 (inc GST). The son of Redoute’s Choice sired 13 stakes winners last season who won 18 stakes races with his leading earner being Wild Ruler.