By Michael Cox
Henry Dwyer believes buyers have a unique opportunity to secure one of the fastest horses he has ever trained when Snitty Kitty (Snitzel) is offered for sale at the 2019 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Snitty Kitty won the 2017 G2 Caulfield Sprint in track-record time for Dwyer and went within a whisker of securing a G1 when second to Russian Revolution (Snitzel) after leading for most of the 2018 G1 Oakleigh Plate.
Few horses are blessed with the type of speed that can cross an Oakleigh Plate field from barrier 17 and lead without so much as a niggle from the jockey, but Snitty Kitty is a pure jump-and-run machine.
“There’s an old racing saying, they go like Oakleigh Platers, and she certainly fits that bill, she has incredible speed,” said Dwyer. “She’s as fast a mare as Australia has seen for quite a while, she really is speed on speed.”
“There’s an old racing saying, they go like Oakleigh Platers, and she certainly fits that bill." - Trainer, Henry Dwyer
Snitty Kitty’s speed meant that racing opportunities were becoming scarce for the 5-year-old.
Henry Dwyer (left) with Snitty Kitty
"That type of speed means she really had to target the 1000m and 1200m races and unfortunately there just aren’t that many of them,” Dwyer said.
Dwyer purchased Snitty Kitty for $180,000 at the 2015 Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale, an auction where Snitzels averaged $243,488.
“Snitzel wasn’t really in demand yet, he hadn’t hit the headlines, but if she was a yearling going through the sales now she would be bringing $500,000 or $600,000,” he said.
"Everything is just go, go, go with her; she is a real sprinter.” - Henry Dwyer
“She is a terrific type, she is a big strong mare. She is incredibly athletic. The thing that attracted us to her in the first place was that she was a great mover. Everything is just go, go, go with her; she is a real sprinter.”
Her large ownership group currently includes Arrowfield Stud who bought into the mare last year. She began racing in their black and gold silks last spring.
Snitty Kitty
Dwyer said Snitty Kitty won’t race before the sale but will be lightly prepped to the point that pushing on to the Brisbane carnival could be an option for her new connections.
“There is also the spring to look at, we couldn’t get to the Oakleigh Plate with her last spring and that was about the only top level option for her. If somebody wanted to tackle the race again that would definitely be an option,” he said.
“She’s got plenty of upside not only as a quality broodmare but, given she’s only five, she still has a good season or two left in her as a top-level race mare as well.”
Chances are that Snitty Kitty will head straight to the breeding barn though, where she looks an ideal match for the likes of hot sires I Am Invincible and Zoustar.
“She’s got plenty of upside not only as a quality broodmare but, given she’s only five, she still has a good season or two left in her as a top-level race mare as well.” - Henry Dwyer
“Or even a shuttle stallion like Justify (USA) if he comes to Australia,” said Inglis NSW Bloodstock Manager Chris Russell. “She is one of the more desirable mares in the country from a breeding point of view. She has the type of profile of mare that would fit in perfectly on the books of the major commercial breeders in Australia."
"Mares like Snitty Kitty just don’t come on the open market very often. She is a very rare commodity and we are very much looking forward to showcasing her and a host of other top-class mares at the Chairman’s Sale.’’
Vendors will also get the benefit of paying zero sales commission to sell race fillies or broodmares at the Chairman's sale, which will be held on an evening session on May 3.
