Snitzel Filly A Queen - Messara

Arrowfield Stud’s John Messara hit the nail on the head when asked for his opinion of the Snitzel filly that had sold to Emirates Park for $1.7 million at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale in 2017.

“She’s a queen and she had it all – pedigree, type, sire, she was worth every penny,’’ Messara said after Bryan Carlson made the winning bid on behalf of Emirates Park.

Messara’s opinion was vindicated after the regally-bred filly, now named Estijaab, trounced her rivals on debut at Randwick last Saturday.

Estijaab (Snitzel x Response by Charge Forward) is now equal favourite for the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 24 and on the third line of betting for the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes.

Messara wasn’t surprised by the ease of the debut performance and expects the filly to prove herself up with the best of her generation.

“She ran like she looked,’’ Messara said. “She’s been a class filly from day one.

“We were delighted to achieve a great sale result with her last year and she looks capable of adding to the success of Snitzel.’’

There are 75 progeny by Snitzel on offer at major sales in Sydney and Melbourne this autumn.

• ROCK ‘N’ Gold, the least fancied of the two starters for trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra won the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington.

The seven-year-old gelding by Rock Of Gibraltar was able to close late to defeat Husson Eagle (Husson) and Itz Invincible (I Am Invincible). Flamberge (Exceed And Excel), having his first start since rejoining the Ellerton and Zahra stable, finished fourth.

Rock ‘N’ Gold had not raced since finishing fifth in a field of six at Sandown on December 2 on a heavy surface.

Rock ‘N’ Gold was purchased at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale by Ellerton Zahra Racing for $NZ55,000 after being bought by Southern Hemisphere Bloodstock earlier that year at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $12,000.

Rock ‘N’ Gold (Rock Of Gibraltar x Goldberg by Geiger Counter) has won seven of his 40 starts with another 17 placings for prize money of $404,900.

He is one of five winners from nine foals to race for his winning dam Goldberg, also the dam of Listed winner and G2-placed Antidotes (Golden Snake).

Goldberg is a half-sister to stakes-producers Kenmare Belle (Kenmare) and Ameerat Blaadi (Kenmare).

Kenmare Belle, dam of European Listed winner Limerick (Fort Wood), is the second dam of South African G1 winner Noah From Goa (Tiger Ridge).

Ameerat-Blaadi’s daughter Dane Belltar (Danewin) is the dam of G1 Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner (Reset) and G2 Zipping Classic winner Tanby (Galileo).

Rock ‘N’ Gold is the 122nd stakes winner by former Coolmore shuttler Rock Of Gibraltar who stood in Australia for eight seasons from 2002 to 2010.

He is the sire of 15 G1 winners.

• EXCITING Nicconi 3YO Nature Strip continued his rise through the ranks when he made it four wins from five starts with his victory over 1100m at Flemington.

Nature Strip (Nicconi x Strikeline) is a graduate of the 2016 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Golden Grove Stud, who also bred the youngster.

Golden Grove general manager Toby Koenig was excited about the horse’s future.

“It was his first time down the straight and he did get lost a little bit but he stretched out nicely toward the end and we couldn’t be happier,’’ Koenig said.

“As a yearling he always had a lovely frame but he was a bit like a teenager in that he just needed that extra time to properly fill out.

“It’s great that he’s been given that time by the connections and he’s now showing the potential we always knew he had and there’s so many options for him moving forward.

“In that same draft in 2016 was Crown Witness so that’s two extremely nice horses we presented.”