Irish jockey Dylan Browne scores biggest win in Australian with Snitzanova in Spring Stakes at Newcastle

Visiting Irish jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle showed great strength to lift Snitzanova across the line and claim an important black type win in the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle.

Dylan Browne McMonagle drives Snitzanova (right) to victory in the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images

Irish rider Dylan Browne McMonagle announced himself to NSW racing with a bang after lifting Snitzanova to a valuable stakes victory at Newcastle on Saturday.

McMonagle is in Australia for a short riding stint over the summer months and scored his biggest victory in the country with a win for national premiership winning trainer Ciaron Maher in the Group 3 $250,000 Spring Stakes (1600m).

The talented hoop came over with an already terrific riding record in the Northern Hemisphere where he has ridden with success for Melbourne Cup winning trainer Joseph O’Brien.

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The pair have combined for three Group 1s victories while McMonagle has more than 330 winners to his name.

Last year he came to Australia around the same time, riding seven winners in Victoria.

McMonagle chose to base himself in NSW this time around and after a slow start, the talented hoop scored his breakthrough success on Newcastle’s biggest day of racing.

“Sydney’s got a bit more to prove (to live up to what) Melbourne did but we are getting going now and hopefully it keeps rolling,” McMonagle said.

“It’s a massive thanks to Ciaron and Johann (Gerard-Dubord) for giving me the chance to come over here.

“I am delighted to get a result like this.

“I will be here until Christmas and probably be back in the New Year as well for a bit so we will see how we go and keep rolling as long as we can.”

The Maher stable haven’t hesitated to use McMonagle on the big stage since his arrival in Australia.

He rode in three Group 1s at Flemington last week but got his reward for effort after returning to NSW to continue his latest stint.

Snitzanova does it tough to win the G3 Spring Stakes for @cmaherracing under the urgings of @DylanBrowneMcM. pic.twitter.com/7BKKKOdA9f

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 16, 2024

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“He is a hard worker and a very good jockey,” Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said.

“He is very strong. I don’t think we would have many stronger jockeys here today.

“It’s great and now she is a stakes winner so it’s great.

Snitzanova had to do things the hard way after being trapped three deep in the run with no cover.

McMonagle elected to be positive on the daughter of Snitzel and had the filly close to the speed.

Snitzanova ($7) kept finding under pressure and dug deep late to hold off the fast-finishing John Sargent-trained French Ruler ($6.50) by a short head.

Bjorn Baker’s Dame Commander ($11) did her best work late to finish half a length away in third.

“It’s super,” McMonagle said.

“She is a tough filly.

“I tried to get in and get a bit of cover but there was no speed and she was a bit forward in the first couple of furlongs and was doing too much.

“I was worried at halfway that she was going to get a bit tired on me but she relaxed good around the bend and she came forward good, and was good and tough.”

Hear from @JGDubord following the win of Snitzanova in the Group 3 Spring Stakes. @cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/TpAz3ALHTZ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 16, 2024

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Snitzanova is the fourth consecutive filly to win the Spring Stakes following the successes of Festival Dancer, Pierossa and Genzano.

It was Maher’s first win in the race.

Maher’s lightly-raced talent was only lining up for her third start after breaking her maiden at Kensington on October 30.

“She is a very improving filly,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“She is bred to get better with time. She is from a very good, late maturing family.

“It was a bit of a tough trip today but she will stay further in time.

“Dylan didn’t panic. It was tight late but she was tough.”

French Ruler made a bold run closest to the fence but ran out of time to overpower the brave Snitzanova late.

Race favourite Alabama State ($2.80) narrowly missed the placings, finishing fourth.

The Three Hundred ($3.90) led the field up but didn’t have much left in the tank in the straight and faded to only beat one runner home.

Originally published as Irish jockey Dylan Browne scores biggest win in Australian with Snitzanova in Spring Stakes at Newcastle