Saturday, 4 June 2011: The Gerald Ryan-trained Hot Snitzel put his best foot forward with a big and somewhat controversial win in the $250,000 Group Two Al Basti Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
 | | Photo by Racing and Sports | |
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The race was a controversial one from the outset, well technically a split second earlier than the outset as third favourite
Free Wheeling did literally that, cart wheeling just prior to the gates opening, flinging Corey Brown into the air.
His performance may have affected his Darley stablemate and race favourite Benfica (McEvoy) who was in the stall next to him, after the gates opened Benfica was slowly away and gave his rivals a few lengths head start.
With all this going on,
Hot Snitzel 
(Bowman) jumped well, got across to the fence and settled with cover right behind race leader Mahisara (Byrne) and inside Shanghai Bund (Nolen).
The front runners went along in that form until the turn when Shangai Bund faded and Hot Snitzel pounced. When the field straightened Hot Snitzel struck the lead and from there it was a matter of how far.
With both his main rivals facing difficulties, it was left to Hot Snitzel to put a space on the field. By the post the space was three lengths to Playtime (Seamer) who finished off well. Mahisara was two and a quarter lengths away in third. The overall time was 1.23.35 with the last 600m run in 35.78.
Hot Snitzel's effort was ultra impressive, regardless of the problems other runners faced, and the TJ Smith has now become an even more interesting race.
“He settled beautifully, the pace was strong which suited him but when the thing outside the leader dropped off he just took the race by his hands and was great,” Bowman said.
“I think he is just a horse who lacks a bit of confidence, everything went his way today and I was able to keep him really happy and uninterrupted and I think that had a lot to do with it.
“He had an uninterrupted run when he won at the Gold Coast and in both his wins he put a gap on them.
“I am sure he will come back next week and on that run, I would be pretty confident he can do it again.”
Hot Snitzel is by Snitzel out of the Blushing Groom (FR) mare Flames Of Paris (USA) and is owned by Triple Crown Synd(Mgr: C HWard), R Martin, A Kelaher, G Woodman, S Nolan, J Karaca, J Kennedy, Mrs R Kennedy, P & V Kennedy Synd & A & P Nicholls Synd.
And after all was said and done,
Free Wheeling was declared a runner, despite being mid cart wheel when the gates opened.
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