2024 Sandown Guineas: Jockey Daniel Stackhouse continues hot streak with Snitzanova victory

Fresh off a treble at The Valley, Daniel Stackhouse produced another gem to win the Group 2 Sandown Guineas aboard the Ciaron Maher-trained Snitzanova.

Snitzanova, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, wins the Sandown Guineas at Caulfield. Picture: Scott Barbour / Racing Photos

Jockey Daniel Stackhouse continued his hot streak on Saturday with Group 2 Sandown Guineas success aboard pick-up ride Snitzanova.

Stackhouse, who replaced injured jockey Michael Dee on a winner for the second time in less than 24 hours, piloted the Ciaron Maher-trained filly to victory over Bittercreek.

Somewhere rounded out the top three in the 1600m feature.

Unplaced favourite Pisces settled well back in the field, got chopped out for a run at the top of the straight and lost all momentum.

Stackhouse gave a shout out to Dee, who sustained a concussion and broken rib in a fall at Flemington jumpouts last Friday.

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“I have to give Mick Dee a shout out and hope he’s recovering well in hospital,” Stackhouse said.

“He sent me a text at midnight last night saying he’s doing OK and that’s great news going forward.

“I was lucky enough for Ciaron and the Bennett Racing team to put me on this horse and the script didn’t go to plan but I’m just lucky she’s a good filly and she did the rest for me.”

Snitzanova digs deep for her third straight win in the Sandown Guineas 😤@[e-mail]/Jqki6FTSLt

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 30, 2024

• Warren has a Diamond in mind for his latest Angel

Maher thanked workhorse Stackhouse for the ride.

“He’s a great fella Dan, he’s a very hard worker and it’s the swings and roundabouts of racing,” Maher said.

“Micky Dee was booked, got injured and that present an opportunity.

“He’s riding with great heart and a lot of confidence, he had a good night last night and he’s backed it up here today.”

Stackhouse rode the first three winners on the card at The Valley last Friday – including Clean Reef as a replacement for Dee.

Snitzanova toughed out the win on Saturday with a sustained run from back in the field.

“That bit of grit and tenacity is what you hope to have and harnessing that and pointing her in the right direction is the key to ensuring they fulfil their potential,” Maher said.

“She’s got a bit of that in her … she hasn’t got the biggest action, or she’s not the biggest horse, but she’s got a lot of grit and determination and even Daniel said late she was going away from them again.

“As she strengthens she’s only going to get better, but she’s done a great job already.”

Snitzanova provided Maher the second leg of a running treble at Caulfield.

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HIYAAM DOES BACKERS PROUD

Hiyaam Proud gets in a nice rhythm & hits the front down the straight to take out the opener at Caulfield 💪 pic.twitter.com/jy1dLCWjgc

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 30, 2024

Hiyaam Proud bounced back from an unlucky second-up outing to prevail in the Whispering Angel Handicap (1800m).

The Matt Laurie-trained gelding struck trouble when narrowly beaten at Caulfield second-up but luck wasn’t part of the equation on Saturday.

Hiyaam Proud, the $2.80 favourite, raced close to a slow speed before outsprinting Nearing Liberty ($3.80) and Saban ($12) to get home by a length.

“He was pretty stiff to get rolled last start and it was good to see him get it done today,” Laurie’s representative Tim Deutscher said.

Deutscher said Hiiyaam Proud could head to Ballarat next Saturday.

Options include a crack at the $500,000 Ballarat Cup or a Benchmark 84 contest over 2000m.

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SHINN GETS ANGLES RIGHT

Getting the angles just right landed top jockey Blake Shinn a running double.

Shinn found himself needing to ease into clear running from tricky spots in consecutive races but managed to get home on both Kadavar and She’s Got Pizzazz.

Kadavar confirmed himself as a stayer or promise when the Chris Waller-trained four-year-old overcame a scrimmage early in the straight to record his fifth win from 12 starts.

Kadavar comes flying down the middle to make it two wins in a row 🔥@cwallerracing@blake_shinnpic.twitter.com/owRgLVqxpX

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 30, 2024

“We chanced our arm and fortunately the runs appeared and he was good enough to win on the line,” Shinn said of Kadavar’s win.

Shinn steered She’s Got Pizzazz to her first black type win in the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes.

Shinn eased the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained filly off the rail at the 200m before She’s Got Pizzazz ($4) strode to a comfortable win over the $51 pop Deep Pleasure.

She's Got Pizzazz tears down the straight for her second career win 🙌@blake_shinn goes back-to-back at Caulfield 🔥@moodyracingpgmpic.twitter.com/hluUI2SAmu

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 30, 2024

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GARZA GLORY

Garza Blanca edged out It’sourtime in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, with favourite I Am Unstoppable six lengths adrift in third.

The six-horse field ploughed through the deteriorating surface, track downgraded from Soft 7 to Heavy 8 after the 1200m event.

Garza Blanca wins the sprint to the finish for his first win in over a year 🙌 @[e-mail]/J0eVr6WaFK

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 30, 2024

Ciaron Maher-trained Garza Blanca got the upper hand over It’sourtime inside the last 100m.

“There was a little bit of concern, the surface is probably not ideal for him, but I thought the horse was very right,“ Maher said.

“He’s a horse with a lot of ability and it was a great ride by Craig. It was a little bit of a nervous watch there towards the end but very good (result).”

Maher said Garza Blanca, a four-time winner from 15 starts, could go on with the job now fully matured.

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STAR JOCKEYS SUSPENDED

Stewards soured winning days for two top jockeys by suspending the pair for careless riding at Caulfield.

Jockeys Blake Shinn and Mark Zahra were suspended for 14 meetings each for causing interference during winning rides.

Shinn was found guilty of careless riding on the Chris Waller-trained Kadavar in the third race while Zahra earned his suspension for his ride on New Energy for leading trainer Ciaron Maher in race seven.

Zahra pleaded guilty to his charge.

Both Zahra and Shinn will fulfil their bookings in Hong Kong on Sunday week before starting their suspensions.

Originally published as 2024 Sandown Guineas: Jockey Daniel Stackhouse continues hot streak with Snitzanova victory