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Warwick Farm trainer David Pfieffer really has a knack with the girls. That was again obvious at Eagle Farm on Saturday when his classy Snitzel mare I Am Excited landed her fourth stakes win in the $200,000 VIctory Stakes.
I Am Excited’s brilliant win over dual Everest winner Redzel gave the mare her second Group 2 win and added to the excellent record Pfieffer has built with his fillies and mares.
The popular trainer’s past female stars have included Group and Listed winners Cradle Me, Gai'S Choice and Graceful Anna.
His record with I Am Excited (Snitzel x Lady Beckworth by General Nediym) is outstanding as she has now won six of her 20 starts and has earned more than $743,000 prizemoney.
She has contested black type race sin 18 of her 20 starts with her earlier wins including the G2 Gilgai Stakes at Flemington.
"She is already a valuable broodmare but that would skyrocket if we can get a Group One win with her," Pfieffer said.
I Am Excited’s dam Lady Beckworth has produced two other winners including the G3 winner Flippant (Hinchinbrook). She is a half-sister to Regard (Zabeel) dam of the outstanding G1 winners Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) and Commanding Jewel (Commands).
Lady Beckworth has a 2YO by Hinchinbrook, a weanling colt by I Am Invincible colt and was served by Russian Revolution last spring.
Champion sire Snitzel was responsible for his 90th stakes winner on Saturday when the Bjorn Baker-trained 5YO mare Irithea proved too fast for her rivals in the G3 Hawkesbury Crown.
Irithea (Snitzel x Kirovskaya by French Deputy) was purchased for $90,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale from the Arrowfield Stud draft and is set to return to Queenland for a tilt at the $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap in June.
"She's five years old and it's not often you say a five-year-old is getting better but she is improving,” Baker said.
“She deserved a stakes win. She's very game.”
Irithea’s dam Kirovskaya is the dam of three winners and is a half-sister to the Japanese-bred G1 winner Cesario (Special Week), who has produced three G1 winners.
There are 12 stakes winners under Kirovskaya’s second dam including champions Anna Pavlova (Danehill Dancer), Gothenberg (Polish Patriot) and Fascinating Rock (Fastnet Rock).
Kirovskaya has a 2YO filly by Smart Missile, a yearling colt by Real Impact and a filly foal by Mikki Isle. She was served by Scissor Kick in 2018.