Arrowfield Celebrates Red Letter Saturday

If there was ever a Saturday to underline just how many years of planning, pedigree judgement and investment sit behind a great day at the races, this was it for Arrowfield. Two Group 1 winners, three stakeswinners by Snitzel and a string of black-type performances across Randwick and Flemington made for an afternoon that reached well beyond the immediate results and into the long-term decisions that shape one of Australia's leading thoroughbred operations. Bob and Sandra Peters' home-bred Cosmic Crusader continued his outstanding spring for trainer Andrea Leek with a convincing victory in the $750,000 Gr1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000m at Flemington, defeating Light Infantry Man and Castelvecchio's triple Gr1-winning daughter Aeliana, who recorded her sixth placing at the highest level. The win took Cosmic Crusader's record to 11 victories from 22 starts and earnings beyond $2.5 million, with Peters now weighing up Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup options. Maurice also added two new 3YO stakes performers, with Caulfield Guineas nominee Vallice finishing second in the Listed Super Impose Stakes and Your Colour, foaled and raised at Arrowfield for Hermitage Thoroughbreds, third in the Listed Dulcify Stakes. At Randwick, Global Goal became the 90th Group 1 winner on Arrowfield's graduate honour roll when sweeping to victory in the $750,000 Gr1 Flight Stakes over 1600m. The Pinatubo filly, out of Tides by Fastnet Rock, was bred by Arrowfield and GSA Bloodstock and sold for $250,000 to co-breeder Jonathan Munz from Arrowfield's Inglis Easter draft before joining trainer John Sargent. Her success adds further lustre to the partnership's $1.9 million acquisition of The Broken Shore, a half-sister to Redoute's Choice, at the 2014 Teeley Dispersal, with Champion 3YO Filly Shoals, a full sister to Tides, another major result from the family. Snitzel supplied three stakeswinners during the afternoon, headed by Wonka in the Listed Dulcify Stakes, the colt bred by Arrowfield and Northern Farm before selling to Chris Waller and Mulcaster Bloodstock for $360,000 at Inglis Classic. Juvenile filly Musandam then led throughout in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington, while The Next Episode produced a determined chase to win the Gr2 Danehill Stakes. The trio lifted Snitzel's career tally to 177 stakeswinners, representing 10 per cent of his worldwide runners. Further black-type results came through Arrowfield-bred 2YO I'm Admired, who outran expectations with second in the Gr3 Gimcrack Stakes, while Snitzel's daughter Marhoona, Dundeel's daughter Litzdeel and Arrowfield graduate Plymouth, fourth in the Gr1 Epsom Handicap, added depth to a remarkable afternoon. The results were quickly reflected on the Australian General Sires' Premiership, with Snitzel first, Maurice third and The Autumn Sun fourth, while Arrowfield graduates have already accumulated nine stakes victories since September 1.

WA's Cosmic Crusader is proving to be a headache for East Coast locals (pic: Mark Gatt)