He has been labelled an excitement machine in Perth and Snitzel’s son Smoko certainly lived up to that billing at his season debut at Ascot today. He extended his unbeaten record with his fourth win when defeating a talented field over 1000 metres.
The 4YO gelding jumped well from a wide gate and, after jockey William Pike eased him across to the rail, he cruised along in front. Pike waited until the challenges became serious, then asked Smoko for a final sprint which was instantly decisive. The pair crossed the line more than two lengths ahead of the field in a time of 57.98 seconds.
Bred by Arrowfield in partnership with Planette Thoroughbred, Smoko is the last foal of the Bletchingly mare London Lights, a city-winning daughter of Travel Light (Queensland Oaks G1), from the dazzling New Zealand speed family of Tudor Light and Elabama.
London Lights did a fine job at stud, leaving 7 winners from nine to race, notably Only A Lady (AJC Flight S. G1) and Adelaide stakeswinner Lisson Grove.
Smoko was a $75,000 buy for Perth owner Frank Fiore from the Bellerive Stud draft at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, and he is trained by Ross & Clint Price.
Three races after Smoko’s win, another son of Snitzel, 3YO Petrol Power was a long-head second in the $100,000 WATC Belgravia S. 1200m LR. He is already among Snitzel’s 15 stakeswinners after winning last season’s WATC Supremacy S. LR.
Earlier in the day at Randwick, 2YO Scratch Me Lucky (Snitzel-Radiant Star by Success Express) stormed home from the back of the field to snatch second in the 1000-metre Victory Vein Plate.