Leading jockey Craig Williams has continued his outstanding day at Flemington with Flying Snitzel coming from the back of the field to win the Group 2 Kewney Stakes in fine fashion.
The Gerald Ryan-trained runner was slow away and settled back in the pack with the $1.80 favourite Norzita jumping well and settling off the pace.
Meliora led them up for a long way until Red Fez took over proceedings with Steven Arnold keeping Norzita under a strong hold just in behind.
Norzita went up and took the lead at the 200m and looked set to score an easy win in the 1400m affair, until Flying Snitzel came from well back in the field to grab a 1L win over Norzita in second and Red Fez hanging on for third.
Flying Snitzel came into the race on the back of a last start fifth in the Light Fingers at Rosehill and trainer Gerald Ryan indicated he may keep the filly in Melbourne for the time being.
‘I came here thinking we could run second but didn’t think we could be Norzita, she had the edge on us in the spring but I was itching to ride her like that for a long time,” Ryan said.
“I didn’t expect her to be last but I knew she would finish off and I felt like she was going to run a place anyway.
“The ground really determines how she goes and she does need a good track underneath her and she has been threatening to win a good race in a long time.”
“She has done really well down here and I was surprised how well she has settled in, we may look for a race down here or even look at Adelaide as well.”
The win was Craig Williams third and a half of the day,the half coming when on Budriguez in a dead-heat in the Blamey.
“That fillies turn of foot is amazing she was brilliant,” said Williams.
“Getting to them was going to be half the battle and she just really motored late and ran through the line which is great for the future.”