Often maligned entire Sooboog (Snitzel) has lifted his chances of being a stud prospect with a strong Aurie’s Star Handicap (Gr 3, 1200m) victory at Flemington yesterday for premier Victorian Darren Weir. One of five Flemington wins on the card for Weir, a personal best on a metropolitan track for the Ballarat-based trainer, Sooboog settled behind the leaders before pulling clear to win by one and three quarter lengths under apprentice Michael Dee.
Well-travelled European and Hong Kong import, Lindsay Parktrained Dibayani (Shamardal), finished an encouraging first-up second, with stablemate Tashbeeh (Commands) a long neck back in third. Second in the Breeders’ Plate (Listed, 1000m) in October 2014, Sooboog, a $1,500,000 purchase at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the Arrowfield Stud draft, was stakes placed in March when trained by Team Hawkes but was transferred to Weir in April. Since then, Sooboog has had five starts, including a second in the Euclase Stakes (Gr 2,1200m) at Morphettville and registered his first win for the stable at Flemington yesterday. Weir said Sooboog had spent time at his Warrnambool stable before recently switching to his Ballarat training complex. "He did a lot at the beach at the start but then we swapped him back to Ballarat in the last ten days," Weir said. "He's done a bit of schooling, a few strong grass gallops and it's switched him on. "We'll just swap him from stable to stable to keep him interested."
Weir said Sooboog had conditions to suit yesterday and, importantly, raced tractably by not getting his head up during the straight 1200 metre race, which the four-year-old has tended to do in the past. "He began well and raced properly for once," Weir said. "He got into a good rhythm and when he can do that he's a really good galloper." As a high-priced yearling purchase for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Weir said it was important to get the Group Three victory under Sooboog's belt and he will now try to enhance the horse’s stallion prospects. Weir said Sooboog, who is untried beyond 1200 metres, relaxed well yesterday and a step up to 1400 metres would be considered. “He’s a Group Three winner now, which is important because he’s still an (entire),” he said. “It’s great for the owners (and) we’ll try and target something in the spring for him.”
Yesterday’s victory took Sooboog’s (4 h Snitzel - Monte Rosa by Fraar) record to 15 starts for three wins, three seconds and a third with prize money earnings of $271,375. Sooboog’s unraced dam Monte Rosa (Fraar) a sister to Adelaide Guineas (Gr 3, 1600m) winner Nina Haraka, has produced seven winners from seven foals to race, including top-class Gerald Ryan-trained Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) winner Snitzerland, who is also by Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice). As well as Snitzerland and Sooboog, Monte Rosa has also produced juvenile winner and Debutant Stakes (Listed, 1000m) placegetter Red Dress Marley (Hussonet). Following the birth of Sooboog, Monte Rosa has been covered by Snitzel each year since, missing in 2012 and slipping in 2013 before producing a filly last August, and she is due to foal to the Arrowfield Stud-based stallion in October.
While Monte Rosa is a tremendous producer herself, her halfsister Nina Haraka is the dam of Walter Brown Stakes (Listed, 1300m) winner and Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) placegetter Extension Of Time (Dash For Cash). Sooboog also comes from the family of Hit It Misty (Hit It Benny), a half-sister to Group Two winners Tennessee Jack (Whiskey Road) and Tennessee Vain (Whiskey Road), who herself produced three stakes winners including Maribyrnong Plate (Gr 2, 1000m) winner Tennessee Morn (Bletchingly). On a great day for Sooboog’s sire Snitzel, he became the 40th individual stakes winner for the son of Redoute’s Choice (Danehill). (courtesy ANZNews)
