SNAPDANCER DOMINATES FILLIES AND MARES FEATURE

By Magic Millions | Saturday, January 15, 2022

Classy mare Snapdancer atoned for an unlucky placing in last year’s TAB Magic Millions Fillies and Mares (1300m) with a dominant victory in Saturday’s edition of the $1 million feature race at the Gold Coast.

It was an easy watch for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, as well as a massive group of owners involved in the daughter of Choisir via Spicer Thoroughbreds, with jockey James McDonald beginning well and able to assume a position outside the leader.

Snapdancer matched motors with the leader Vulpine as she quickened inside the final 400m but by the time the field passed the 100m post, the race was over with the five-year-old careering away for a near two-length win.

Maher said his stable had put a long-range plan in place to win the race and the last piece of the puzzle fell into place when he convinced McDonald to take the ride on the mare.

“She was very unlucky in this race last year and the boys were a little bit disappointed so it was a real target this year,” Maher said.

“We gave her a light spring and especially targeted her here.

“I asked JMac (James McDonald) to ride her and I think he might have been thinking of another one and I told him to have a look at her run last year and the first up run.

“That was enough for him to come across and jump on her.

“She can be a bit tardy away and I told him that’s where he would win it or lose it and he got a beautiful start and it was an easy watch from there.

“There’s a big team in her, Brad Spicer and the crew, so it’s fantastic.”

McDonald said he was confident of victory after Snapdancer left the barriers cleanly.

“She jumped really well and the race was all over,” McDonald said.

Presented as part of the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Snapdancer attracted a winning bid of $180,000 by Victorian syndicator Brad Spicer.

Saturday’s win – Snapdancer’s fifth career victory – took the mare’s stake earnings beyond $930,000.

Maher and Eustace have been the most active buyer across the first four days of the 2022 Gold Coast Yearling Sale with more than 40 purchases, including a $1.7 million Not A Single Doubt colt (Lot 261) and a $1.5 million Pierro colt (Lot 419).

Sledmere Stud’s highlight in recent days came via the sale of a Zoustar colt (Lot 375) from their draft, that was purchased for $1.3 million by the Victorian Alliance, in partnership with Suman Hedge and David Redvers.

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