Superb Switzerland shortens for Slipper
Coolmore-owned colt rated $6 for next month’s juvenile Group 1 after bagging Pierro Plate prize
Imposing $1.5 million colt Switzerland (Snitzel) provided more emphatic vindication for Arrowfield’s purchase of his dam and firmed in the market to give Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), Coolmore and Chris Waller back-to-back Golden Slippers (Gr 1, 1200m) with a superb victory in yesterday’s Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick.
The striking colt – striving to emulate last year’s win of Shinzo (Snitzel) for his sire, majority owner and trainer in the world’s richest two-year-old race – went into his second start a $1.65 favourite in what bookmakers called a match race against Shangri La Express (Alabama Express), who eased to $3.90.
Resuming in quest of a third win from as many starts, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained colt sped to the lead in the seven-runner field as expected, with James McDonald settling Switzerland in third before a move to second passing the 800 metres.
Shangri La Express gave a kick into the straight as Switzerland was challenged for second, but once urged into top gear under hands and heels riding from McDonald, the pricey colt surged past his tiring rival inside the final 150 metres to win by three-quarters of a length.
Waller was delighted with Switzerland’s performance, which followed a debut Randwick victory over 1000 metres on January 27, as the colt seeks to emulate Shinzo by winning the Golden Slipper in his first campaign. The master trainer ominously warned there was more improvement to come.
“It’s early days. We’re just waking him up, he’s still a baby,” Waller said.
“The second horse is no slouch too, everyone knows how well Gai and Adrian’s two-year-olds are going at the moment. He made us work the last 100 metres, and the penny will start to drop now [for Switzerland] as we get deeper into our plans.
“We’re still four or five weeks away from our grand final and I don’t dare want to know what’s there yet, I want to see it on Golden Slipper day.”
Bookmakers responded by winding Switzerland in two points to $6 for the $5 million Slipper at Rosehill on March 23, behind Waterhouse and Bott’s dominant $3 favourite Storm Boy (Justify). Shangri La Express eased to third favouritism at $9.
Waller said the Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick on March 9 would likely be Switzerland’s only other start before the Slipper.
Switzerland was the fifth-highest lot and the third-top colt when bought at the Inglis Easter sale last year by Coolmore’s Tom Magnier. He’s the first foal of Canadian-bred mare Ms Bad Behavior (Blame), a dual stakes-winner in the US who was bought by Arrowfield’s Jon Freyer – with the stud’s super sire Snitzel in mind – for $600,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2019.
Ms Bad Behavior has now had three colts by Snitzel, and is in foal to him again. A yearling colt Freyer described as “exceptional” is headed to Easter this year Listed as Lot 170, while he said a foal born on October 1 “might just be the best of the three”.
McDonald said he was thrilled with how Switzerland had responded to a different race pattern, having settled in sixth spot in his previous start before moving through the field to beat subsequent Lonhro Plate (Listed, 1000m) winner Castanya (Capitalist).
“He was in foreign territory there being outside the leader. It wasn’t ideal,” McDonald said. “But it adds another string to his bow.
“He feels extremely talented, and I just love how smooth he is. He takes everything in his stride, nothing really fazes him.
“But he got away with that one ridden in a position where he’s never been before, so it was a good effort.”
Shangri La Express’s co-trainer Bott said the colt, resuming after taking Rosehill’s $1m Golden Gift (1100m) in November, was still on course for the Slipper. A slight shortage of fitness told in the end, he said, adding Shangri La Express would meet Switzerland again in the Todman.
“Our colt fought on well and it took a bit for the winner to get to him, then when he did, he couldn’t shake him off easily,” Bott said of the $220,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast purchase who was bred by Yulong Stud.
“He was always going to be most vulnerable today.”
The Anthony Cummings-trained longshot Extreme Diva (Extreme Choice) finished well for third at her second start, beaten just over a length and a half.
Michael Freedman’s debutant Enriched (I Am Invincible) – whose dam Miss Atom Bomb (Encosta De Lago) is a half-sister to Winx (Street Cry) – drew support as a $7.50 third favourite but after racing on the pace weakened to finish last.