Stakes plan for son of Snitzel

3 min read

John McArdle has a stakes programme in mind for Bricktop (Snitzel) who successfully opened his spring preparation on his home turf on Thursday.

The Mornington trainer produced the 3-year-old for a first-up success in the Janet Hemmings H., a race won last season by the subsequent G1 Australian Derby winner Levendi (Pierro).

On the way to his classic victory, Levendi also claimed the G3 Carbine Club S., at Flemington and that’s potentially a race on Bricktop’s radar.

“We’ll look at the Sandown Guineas and the Carbine Club,” McArdle said. “He’s still got a bit to learn but he’s getting there.

“We’ll look at the Sandown Guineas and the Carbine Club.” - John McArdle.

“He’s a very laid back colt and you don’t exactly know what you’re going to get until he gets to the races. He’s a lovely colt though and he’s got a future over more ground.”

Bricktop placed in all three of his outings last season and returned in style at Mornington where he sat in behind the leaders and lengthened stride well in the straight to break through.

“He was on and off the bridle and he put a margin on them and then switched off,” McArdle said. “He’s still learning his craft.”

“He was on and off the bridle and he put a margin on them and then switched off.” - John McArdle.

Bricktop has been ridden in all of his starts by Jamie Mott and he was suitably impressed on Thursday.

“He doesn’t like cut in the ground and he got a firm track,” he said. “He’ll go over more ground and there’s a lot more to come from him.”

Bricktop is out of the Fraar (USA) (Topsider {USA}) mare Seattle Lass, who won three times, and is from a handy black type family. The third dam Swell Time Girl (Niccolo Polo {USA}) won the Listed Geelong Oaks Trial and her mother Paraparap (Manihi) won the G3 Easter Cup.

Well-related filly

A well-bred filly also emerged as another likely challenger for higher honours when De Little Sister (All Too Hard), at her second appearance, was a hollow winner of the Cleo White Plate for trainer Pat Carey and rider Rhys McLeod.

She is a daughter of the G1 VRC Oaks heroine Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer {IRE}), also trained by Carey, whose four foals to race have now won and includes De Little Engine (Encosta de Lago). Among his nine victories is the Andrew Ramsden S.

The Mornington meeting revealed a third youngster of promise when Predecessor (Epaulette) shed his maiden tag in the Sarah Ellis Plate for trainer Dean Binaisse and jockey Dwayne Dunn.

The colt, who was also making his second appearance, is the third winner for the Viscount (Quest For Fame {GB}) mare Exquisite. She is from the prolific Group family of Skilled (Commands), his brother Ambidexter and Sidestep (Exceed And Excel).