Snitzel (24 August 2002 - 11 June 2025) 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 (2006), $22,000 (2007), $22,000 (2008), $22,000 (2009), $27,500 (2010), $27,500 (2011), $33,000 (2012), $49,500 (2013), $71,500 (2014), $88,000 (2015), $110,000 (2016), $176,000 (2017), $220,000 (2018), $220,000 (2019), $165,000 (2020), $165,000 (2021), $220,000 (2022).
Notable stock
Snitzel has sired 27 individual Group 1 winners:
c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding
Foaled Name Sex Major wins 2008 Hot Snitzel g BTC Cup 2009 Sizzling c BRC TJ Smith Stakes 2009 Snitzerland f Lightning Stakes 2010 Shamus Award c W S Cox Plate, Australian Guineas 2010 Sweet Idea f The Galaxy 2011 Wandjina c Australian Guineas 2012 Redzel g Doomben 10,000, Darley Classic 2013 Heavenly Blue c South African Classic 2013 Russian Revolution c The Galaxy, Oakleigh Plate 2014 I Am Excited f The Galaxy 2014 Invader c Sires' Produce Stakes 2014 Summer Passage c Sistema Stakes 2014 Trapeze Artist c Golden Rose Stakes, TJ Smith Stakes, All Aged Stakes, Canterbury Stakes 2015 Estijaab f Golden Slipper Stakes 2017 Wild Ruler c Moir Stakes 2018 Baraqiel g Moir Stakes 2018 In The Congo c Golden Rose Stakes 2018 Sword Of State c Sistema Stakes 2018 Yearning f The Thousand Guineas 2020 Shinzo c Golden Slipper 2021 Switzerland c Coolmore Stud Stakes 2021 Lady Shenandoah f Coolmore Classic, Surround Stakes, Flight Stakes 2021 Lazzura f Coolmore Classic 2022 Marhoona f Golden Slipper, The Galaxy 2022 Return To Conquer c Sistema Stakes 2023 Campione D'Italia c Sires' Produce Stakes (ATC) 2023 Fireball c Champagne 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.
Pedigree
References