Champion Snitzel was humanely euthanised on Wednesday morning at Arrowfield Stud, his home for nearly two decades and the base for one of the most exceptional stallion careers in Australian thoroughbred breeding history.
Snitzel – may his legacy continue to thrive (Pic – Supplied)
Known for his soundness and vitality throughout most of his life, Snitzel began to show signs of age-related decline in 2024.
Despite comprehensive veterinary support and the daily dedication of Arrowfield’s experienced stallion team, his condition deteriorated rapidly over the past week. With no treatment options remaining, the decision was made to allow him a peaceful and dignified farewell.
Arrowfield acknowledged the profound impact of his passing, not only as the loss of a great horse, but as the end of a significant chapter in the stud’s history. Snitzel was more than a commercial success; he was a reliable and stoic presence who shaped the daily rhythm of life at the farm and anchored many careers.
The farm also recognises the many people and partnerships that made Snitzel’s career possible. These include breeder Francois Naude; trainer Gerald Ryan, who managed his racing career; the ownership partners who supported his stud career from the beginning; and the many breeders, buyers, trainers and jockeys who contributed to the success of his progeny across Australia and internationally.
Snitzel, a son of Redoute’s Choice and grandson of Danehill, was a Group 1-winning sprinter on the track and became an era-defining sire at stud.
From the time he joined the Arrowfield roster in 2006, his trajectory was marked by consistent excellence and broad influence. He would go on to sire 160 stakeswinners, including multiple Group 1 champions and leave an indelible mark on the national breeding landscape.
Snitzel’s influence extends well beyond Arrowfield. His dominance of Australian sire rankings, his versatility across sprinters and stayers, and his ability to upgrade his mares made him one of the most valuable and reliable stallions of the modern era. His sons and daughters have carried his qualities forward and are already proving themselves in the breeding shed, ensuring that his legacy will continue.
Like his sire Redoute’s Choice and grandsire Danehill, Snitzel became a cornerstone not only of Arrowfield’s breeding program, but of the broader Australian thoroughbred industry. His contribution to the sport, measured in champions, premierships, and the people he brought together, will not be forgotten.
On Tuesday at Seymour, a two-year-old colt trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr became Snitzel’s 20th individual juvenile winner for the season, helping to secure his fifth Australian 2YO Sires’ Premiership. The colt’s name, Job Done, could not have been more fitting.
Job done, indeed!
