Augustine Without Fear as Snippets Racing celebrates first stakes triumph

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Juvenile Chilled scores Listed win at Adelaide for syndicator who’s swapped the corporate world for the race track

As Covid-19 took its grip across the world during 2020, its impact prompted Andrew Augustine to take a leap into the unknown.

The high-flying marketeer left behind a steady and successful career in advertising to follow his passion in the risk-reward industry of horseracing, so it is perhaps apt that the first stakes winner for his fledgling Snippets Racing syndication business arrived on Saturday, in the Without Fear Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Morphettville. 

Saluting in the juvenile sprint was their ‘tough’ filly Chilled (Shalaa). The Matt Laurie-trained daughter of new Woodside Park Stud stallion Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) earned a third win from five starts. She became the 15th individual stakes winner for her sire, as she burst from the pack to chase down the leader and assert her authority in the final 100 metres to defeat Iphemedia (Exceed And Excel), headlining what has, crucially, been a highly successful first 18 months for Snippets Racing. 

“I think it was during Covid that many people gained a new perspective on many things,” Augustine told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday. 

“It taught us to tackle life’s challenges and live life without fear. I had this love and passion for racing and it was always something I wanted to pursue, but I was probably a bit fearful about jumping off the cliff. It was something I felt I had to do. 

“We’ve had success from day dot, and that’s what you need in this game. I’ve given up the financial stability, but it’s a passion that we love.”

It is perhaps Augustine’s new-found bravado that sees Chilled racing at all in Snippets Racing’s cerise and grey checked silks, colours reminiscent of those worn by the inaugural Magic Millions winner of the same name, who was raced by Augustine’s father. 

Utilising the experience of former trainer-turned-bloodstock agent Peter Morgan, Augustine and his wife Jade, who together operate the business, embarked on the Magic Millions sale where the Valiant Stud-consigned filly was nearly lost forever as she sailed on through the Gold Coast sale ring, passed in. 

“I’ve had a lot of luck with the Shalaas, and we saw this filly at Valiant’s draft. We actually had already purchased a Shalaa earlier that morning, so we didn’t particularly want another one because we have to diversify our interests,” Augustine said. “But, we were kicking ourselves, we let her go through.

“We got a phone call from Fergal [Connolly, principal of Valiant Stud] to say she’s available for $125,000, so we went back and bought her on the spot. 

“She was an out-and-out running type. We didn’t have a trainer at the moment we bought her and it was through Peter Morgan that I was introduced to Matt Laurie. He had a look at her and said, ‘I’m not sure if she’s big enough, but she looks strong’ and he came in with us.”

Augustine had visions of a dream-fulfilling Magic Millions success with the diminutive filly, sending her to Warwick Farm and then the Sunshine Coast for her second start, holding an ambition to emulate his father and Snippets (Lunchtime), who he recalls watching as a 15-year-old at Caulfield to win the 1988 Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m) in track record time. 

However, at this stage a tale of fast starts and instant success appeared much more forlorn. 

“I was a little bit behind the decisions early on to get her up to Queensland,” Augustine said. 

“She went to Gerald Ryan’s and won her barrier trial [in Sydney] to get her barrier certificate. But on her debut it went a bit pear–shaped, because she showed a tendency to miss the start.”

Chilled finished third at Warwick Farm, beaten three-quarters of a length and followed up with a two-and-three-quarter-length defeat 11 days later, filling the same position after she repeated her start-missing trick. 

Abandoning the Millions dream for this year, at least, Chilled, along with her Snippets Racing barnmate Arugamama (Churchill) ventured to South Australia, where on the same day as Chilled – barrier vices misdemeanours behind her – got off the mark, three-year-old Arugamama placed in the Clare Lindop Stakes (Listed, 1600m), a result which paved a path towards a second-placed finish in the Auraria Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) and a 12th-placed finish in last Saturday’s Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m).

“Adelaide’s been a very happy hunting ground for us over the last few weeks, which has been great,” Augustine said.  “Chilled has raced in three different states before she’d even raced at home, so it just shows you how tough she is. 

“She beat Straten Angel in Adelaide, who is touted as one of the better two-year-old fillies in training at the moment. 

“If you listen to the replay, you’ll hear someone screaming and that was me! It’s been a challenge to get the business up and going and financial pressures, but we’ve had terrific support from the sales companies and from our owners, so to be getting the results now makes it all worthwhile.”

After securing an initial Listed success, Augustine and Laurie could target a return to Adelaide with Chilled – who is the first foal out of the unplaced Sauvignon (Pierro) – and further black type in the David Coles AM Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) on May 20. 

“In the back of my mind, she’s not a big filly, so some of those other horses may catch up to her in the spring,” Augustine added. 

“I said to Matt yesterday, I was there when Headway won the Coolmore [Stud Stakes], and she was a tiny little filly, so who knows? She’s surprised us to date, and she might just surprise us going forward. She’s a real professional and an absolute beauty, and it’s a pleasure to have her.”

Augustine, who has so far purchased 11 yearlings since 2021 for his stable, landing four winners from seven to race, acknowledges a quick start was needed to break into the saturated syndication market, but believes his operation, through his own experience and that of his wife, Jade, a former marketer for Country Racing Victoria, can provide a unique experience.  

“One of the greatest satisfactions is bringing new owners into the game. I think that’s the niche that Snippets can fulfil. We want to give people a great experience. Hopefully, we can provide the success and the communication, which are the two things we look to provide,” he said. 

“We only buy horses that meet our criteria, and I work with some very good judges in Peter Morgan and Suman Hedge, but I’m the one that’s footing the bill, so I only go for what I would look for in a horse, personally. 

“There’s no greater feeling in this business than having a winner, and that’s what I want to provide to our owners.”