Magic Millions 2017: Snippets to have race named in his honour

SNIPPETS, the horse that gave credibility to the Magic Millions brand from the very outset, is to be honoured with a race named in his honour at the sales company’s $10 million day.

Magic Millions, 2 year old Classic race start from outside turf club Through fence. Picture Mike Batterham

SNIPPETS, the horse that gave credibility to the Magic Millions brand from the very outset, is to be honoured with a race named in his honour at the sales company’s $10 million day.

The $1 Million Magic Millions Sprint is to be renamed the Magic Millions Snippets, sponsored by Harrolds, celebrating the inaugural Magic Millions winner who went on to Group 1 glory before becoming a major influence as a stallion.

Adding even more significance to the renaming of the race, Snippets’ original owners the Augustine family, have made the original 1987 Magic Millions trophy available as a perpetual trophy for the race.

Snippets has been described as “the Patron Saint” of Magic Millions for becoming one of Australia’s best racehorses from an original catalogue of just 200 horses and later leaving a legacy that lives on to this day.

His grandson Snitzel, Australia’s leading sire, has 47 yearlings catalogued for the Magic Millions sale next month and will almost certainly be the leading stallion by both aggregate and average.

“This is the only race on our $10 million day named after a horse,” Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox said.

“It’s fitting that it’s Snippets — the original champion of Magic Millions, sold at our very first auction and the horse who helped an incredible innovation become reality.”

Originally trained on the Coast by Sally Rogers after being bought for just $22,000, Snippets went on to win nine races, including three at Group 1 level, before making his name at stud, where he sires 601 individual winners.

His stars included Group 1 winners Spartacus, Casual Pass, Hasna, Pins, Snowland and Sky Cuddle.

His daughters have produced Group 1 winners Snitzel, Red Tracer, Bel Sprinter, Shellscrape, Overreach, Magnus, Unearthly, Crystal Lily, Merchant Navy, Wanted and Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time.

He is also the great damsire of the legendary Black Caviar.

The field jumps in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic with last year’s winner Houtzen closest to camera. Picture: Mike Batterham

■ RACING Queensland on Thursday released figures showing this month’s Lough Neagh Stakes meeting at Doomben achieved an average turnover increase of 43 per cent compared with the same meeting last year.

“The early wagering results from this year’s (Summer) Carnival have been particularly pleasing … with excellent field sizes and a strong interstate presence all contributing to its success,” RQ chief executive Eliot Forbes said.

Originally published as Magic Millions 2017: Snippets to have race named in his honour