By Bren O'Brien
Peter and Paul Snowden may have unearthed a potential stakes filly in California Zimbol (I Am Invincible) who debuted with an impressive win in a 2-year-old race at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Bought for $450,000 at last year's Easter Yearling Sale by Asian Bloodstock Services, California Zimbol is a half-sister to stakes winners Cruden Bay (Not A Single Doubt) and From Within (Not A Single Doubt) and could be set to join them in that category based on what she put forward on debut
Recovering from a slightly awkward start, California Zimbol sat outside the early pace in the 1200m The Agency Real Estate Hcp, before striding clear at the top of the straight to win by 1.5l from Chris Waller's debutante Maddi Rocks (Fastnet Rock), with the favourite Tracy May (Redoute's Choice), also trained by Waller, another length and a half back in third.
Racing manager Colum McCullagh was rapt with what he saw from the filly, especially given the support that Asian Bloodstock Services have given the Snowden team.
"Hopefully we see more improvement from her as she gets more race experience as well." - Racing manager Colum McCullagh
"They are great supporters of the stable Howard Liang, Marie Yoshida and Alan Ho. It is great to have them a part of it. It’s great to see her do that today and translate what she does at home on raceday," he said.
"She's built like a colt and she was a $450,000 purchase, so hopefully we see more improvement from her as she gets more race experience as well."
Jockey Glyn Schofield was particularly impressed with California Zimbol, predicting she would handle the step up to black-type level in the near future.
"She just jumped the gates fairly, but gee, she mustered quickly, within two to three strides she was back on top of them and I followed the leader around," he said.
"On that performance, you’d say she was stakes class." - Jockey Glyn Schofield
"She got into a really good rhythm. She's got a big long stride. She's nice and strong and she's got a turn of speed, so there's a lot to like about her performance today."
"On that performance, you’d say she was stakes class. She's got a little bit to learn, but she's got a lot to learn as well. I'm sure the Snowdens will have a lot of fun placing her in some good races."
She was bred by Harry Mitchell and sold through Yarraman Park.
Snitzel's two-state double
The 2-year-old colts and geldings' race at Canterbury was won by Discharged (Snitzel), who led all the way in the Pluck @Vinery Mdn Hcp at his second start.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained colt, a $260,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast buy, took substantial improvement from his third on debut on Anzac Day, holding off the James Cummings-trained Kordia (Epaulette) by 0,4l, with Bigboyroy (Dissident) another length back in third.
Discharged was bred by Gerry Harvey and is the first winner from Group 2 winning mare No Evidence Needed (Shamardal {USA}).
Discharged
At the Gold Coast, Snowzone (Snitzel) relished a gear change to give Snitzel another 2-year-old winner in the McWilliams Hazy Days Maiden over 1200m.
Suited by the hectic speed set by Eleven Eleven (Fastnet Rock), the Kris Lees-trained colt, having his fourth start, charged home from midfield to win by 2.8l from Chico Milagro (I Am Invincible).
Australian Bloodstock bought Snowzone for $220,000 at last year's Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale. He is out of the excellent producer Snowdrift (Fr), who has produced Group 1 winner Snowland (Snippets) as well as the stakes-winners Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}) and Snippetson (Snippets).
Snowzone as a yearling
Cabalo Escuro (All Too Hard) claimed the fillies' 2-year-old event, the Canadian Club QTIS Maiden for jockey James Orman and trainer Desleigh Forster.
At Balaklava, Dundeel (NZ) tasted his fifth 2-year-old success of the season from just ten runners when the Phillip Stokes trained filly Nature Deel won The Exchange Hotel SAOBIS 2YO Mdn Plate after leading all the way on debut.
Later on the same card, Deep Field marked his 12th winner in his first season when the Tony McEvoy trained 2-year-old Xilong beat the older horses in a 1140m maiden.
