Bennett Racing to offer Snitzanova and Tatts Tiara fancies at Magic Millions

The depth of Nathan Bennett’s syndicated racing portfolio will be partly on display at the Gold Coast with the Victorian puts Queensland winter carnival candidates Snitzanova, Zaszou and three-year-old Military Tycoon through the Magic Millions sales ring.

A last-start winner of the Magic Millions Subzero at the Gold Coast in January, Snitzanova is being aimed at the Q22 during the Brisbane carnival with long-range plans also in place for the rising five-year-old to be aimed at the Caulfield Cup in the spring.

Potential buyers of stakes winner Zaszou and lightly raced filly Military Tycoon could also be in line for a quick return with Maher and Bennett aiming towards the Tattersalls Tiara at Eagle Farm in June, the fillies and mares Group 1 at the back end of the winter carnival.

Ciaron Maher Racing will present a draft of fillies and mares at the Magic Millions National Sale, scheduled for May 26 and 27.

Bennett is confident Snitzanova can measure up to the staying test of a Caulfield Cup.

“That looks well within reach given the depth and European influence in her pedigree, which suggests she’ll run a strong 2400 metres under those conditions,” Bennett said.

“Listed winner Zaszou is on a Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara path, alongside Group 3 winner Military Tycoon, who also profiles as a genuine lightweight contender for the race this year, so we have genuine racing upside still to come through the carnival.”

Bennett Racing will also offer mares in foal to their Manikato Stakes and Australian Guineas-winning sprinter-miler Southport Tycoon, who completed his first season at stud at Widden Victoria last year.

The in-foal mares will be offered through the Riverstone Lodge draft.

Maher was the first to offer his own draft of mares at the breeding stock sales, setting the platform for other trainers and syndicators to follow suit.

At this year’s Chairman’s Sale in Sydney, agent Louis Le Metayer’s Astute Bloodstock has a draft of three mares, while Jamie Walter also has a draft of three race mares entered for the Riverside Stables sale.

Previously, Chris Waller Racing sold then three-year-old Group 1-placed filly Tutta La Vita at the Chairman’s Sale, with the daughter of The Autumn Sun selling for $3.2 million.

The Ciaron Maher Racing draft of fillies and mares heading to the Gold Coast will also include the Group-winning two-year-old Icarian Dream as well as fellow Group performers Wiltshire Square and Extratwo.

“We’re really pleased with the draft we’re bringing to the National Sale this year, highlighted by the Bennett Racing fillies, along with a number of other black-type performers,” Ciaron Maher Racing’s head of bloodstock Will Bourne said.

“It’s a group that has performed at a high level on the track and, importantly, has the profiles and pedigrees to go on with it in the breeding barn. 

“The depth right through the draft is strong, and we feel it gives buyers a genuine opportunity across a range of values.”

Victorian operation Hesket Thoroughbreds will present 22 lots through the Newington Farm Premium Consignment at the National Sale.

The Hesket draft forms part of an unreserved reduction, featuring mares from families the farm has developed over many years, with the operation opting to retain stock connected to its former racehorse and emerging sire General Beau.

“We’re incredibly enthusiastic about the future of General Beau and what he’s producing,” Hesket’s David Moodie said. 

“The quality we’re seeing from our young sire has given us real confidence in him, so we’ve made the decision to retain his foals and pregnancies, while reducing our broader Hesket broodmare band accordingly.

“This unreserved reduction is really about returning to our roots, going back to how we were breeding 30 years ago, focused on breeding to race, before the commercial pressures and rising costs in the industry shaped the current landscape.”