Snitzel (horse)


Snitzel was a Group 1 winning Australian thoroughbred racehorse and successful stallion, having sired over 100 individual stakes winners.

Background

Bred by Francois Naude from the stakes-winning Snippets mare Snippets’ Lass, Snitzel was purchased for A$260,000 by his trainer Gerald Ryan for owners Damion and Camilla Flower at the 2004 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.

Racing career

2004/05: two-year-old season

Snitzel won his first three starts as a spring 2YO, including the Listed Breeders' Plate, and progressed to win the Skyline Stakes in February 2005. Snitzel started the short priced favourite for the 2YO Magic Millions Classic and Golden Slipper Stakes however he was unsuccessful in both races.

2005/06: three-year old season

Snitzel tasted Group 1 success as a three-year-old when successful in the Oakleigh Plate at the odds of 10/1. He was retired to stud duties after Arrowfield Stud purchased a significant ownership share in the horse. At the time of his retirement, Snitzel had won 7 races and over $1 million in prizemoney.

Stud career

Snitzel has proven to be one of Australia's most successful and expensive stallions with his service fee being in the Top 10 worldwide, being in 2018 a total of $220,000 per service.
Stud fees: Snitzel has stood exclusively at Arrowfield Stud in New South Wales. His service fee progression has been $33,000, $22,000, $22,000, $22,000, $27,500, $27,500, $33,000, $49,500, $71,500, $88,000, $110,000, $176,000, $220,000, $220,000, $165,000, $165,000, $220,000.

Notable stock

Snitzel has sired 23 individual Group 1 winners:
c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding
FoaledNameSexMajor wins
2008Hot SnitzelgBTC Cup
2009SizzlingcBRC TJ Smith Stakes
2009SnitzerlandfLightning Stakes
2010Shamus AwardcW S Cox Plate, Australian Guineas
2010Sweet IdeafThe Galaxy
2011WandjinacAustralian Guineas
2012RedzelgDoomben 10,000, Darley Classic
2013Heavenly BluecSouth African Classic
2013Russian RevolutioncThe Galaxy, Oakleigh Plate
2014I Am ExcitedfThe Galaxy
2014InvadercSires' Produce Stakes
2014Summer PassagecSistema Stakes
2014Trapeze ArtistcGolden Rose Stakes, TJ Smith Stakes, All Aged Stakes, Canterbury Stakes
2015EstijaabfGolden Slipper Stakes
2017Wild RulercMoir Stakes
2018BaraqielgMoir Stakes
2018In The CongocGolden Rose Stakes
2018Sword Of StatecSistema Stakes
2018YearningfThe Thousand Guineas
2020ShinzocGolden Slipper
2021SwitzerlandcCoolmore Stud Stakes
2021Lady ShenandoahfCoolmore Classic, Surround Stakes, Flight Stakes
2022Return To ConquercSistema Stakes

Death

Snitzel began to show signs of age-related decline in 2024 and on 11 June 2025 was euthanised with no treatment options left available.