I’m Pretty ran right over the top of the leaders to claim the first leg of a winning treble for Scenic Lodge at Belmont on Saturday.

The Dash For Cash grey mare settled at the tail of the field in the TABtouch Westspeed Platinum Hcp (1400m) and was still six lengths in arrears at the furlong.  She responded to a well-timed Willie Pike ride to win running away by the best part of two lengths from Speedy Miss (Demerit).

I’m Pretty had won first-up at Belmont a fortnight ago and is racing in career-best form this prep.  “She’s had issues with her feet and the farriers have done a great job,” trainer Adam Durrant said.  “She was stuck behind a few slow ones today but picked them up and won like a better horse.”

Durrant prepares the 5yo for his parents Geoff and Vicki Durrant who have banked $148,615 including Westspeed Platinum bonuses of $30,050 from 7 wins in 23 starts.  She has also earned EPONA credits of $6,490 towards her first-season service fee.

I’m Pretty is the first of three Dash For Cash foals from Not So Pretty (Bletchley Park).  Their 4yo mare Looksnoteverything won at Bunbury in March and their unraced 2yo filly I’m A Special Girl won a Lark Hill trial last Monday.

Not So Pretty has a yearling colt and a filly foal by Snippetson who completed the Scenic Lodge treble with Sunnysilk (Grant McLearie Hcp) and Tinsnip (Free Entry To Belmont Hcp).

Sunnysilk is trained by David Harrison and has won three of her last five starts this season following surgery for a chipped knee.  Saturday’s victory increased her earnings to $268,970 including Westspeed Platinum payments of $115,600.  It also sent her EPONA credits through the maximum threshold of $10,000.

Tinsnip is prepared by Durrant for owner-breeder David Elsegood and he has been a consistent money-spinner winning to Group 3 level in the 2019 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes for prizemoney totalling $370,860.  “He was playing games behind the gates but it was a good, fighting win after over-racing outside the leader,” Durrant said. “Luckily it was a steady tempo which made it hard for the backmarkers.”

Apart from Snippetson’s Perth winners, his strike-rate has been augmented by recent interstate 3yo maiden winners Playing For Keeps (Gunnedah) and Semenuk (Mildura).

Playing For Keeps was bred by Loloma Farms and is a half-brother to Fancy Feet (G3 Strickland Stakes).  Semenuk was bred by Glenn Martin and is a half-brother to Zuccheros (LR Carbine Club Stakes).

Scenic Lodge stands Snippetson and Universal Ruler for $8,250 with Dash For Cash ($2,200).  All fees (inc GST).

River Beau will be given the chance to crack a hat-trick in Group 3 company after a sizzling victory in the Crown Towers Hcp (1000m) at Ascot.

The Snippetson sprinter had defeated star filly Clairvoyance a fortnight ago and backed that up with another impressive win on Saturday.  He ran down front-runner Ziebell to win by a half-length in a quick 57.96s.

Snippetson stakes winner Gemma’s Son worked home to finish third another length in arrears.

Trainer Bruce Watkins believes River Beau has earned the right to make his black-type debut in the $150,000 Northam Stakes (1100m) on Sunday, May 2.  “I knew he would be hard to beat when they went out hard today.  He’s up in the ratings enough to warrant going to Northam.  It will be another hi-tempo race and he can really finish off under those conditions.

“He used to over-race but is a more relaxed horse now.  We’ve worked him out and he’s coming through his races much better.  None of the family have been winter horses so we will probably tip him out after his next start.”

River Beau (4g Snippetson – Peggie’s Louise by Oratorio) is a homebred for Keith and Peggie Beauglehole.  His dam is a half-sister to Australian Horse of the Year Miss Andretti (Ihtiram) and multiple stakes-winning sprinter Danny Beau (Zedrich).

Peggie’s Louise delivered River Beau first-up and her latest foal is an unraced 2yo filly by Snippetson named Paradise Diva.

Jockey Jason Whiting has been aboard River Beau in all 18 starts for 6 wins and prizemoney totalling $291,590 including Westspeed Bonuses of $45,150.  “I was happy to slot in behind the speed and bide my time.  He has a brilliant turn of foot and can cover decent horses quite easily.

“There’s no reason why he can’t come to the party at Northam.  You won’t know until you have a go.”

Scenic Lodge stallion Snippetson has already sired 8 individual winners this month.  His 2yo gelding Featherweight was successful at Ascot on April 10 and wasn’t disgraced when working outside the lead to finish fourth in the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.

Trainer Dan Morton is hoping Featherweight (Snippetson) can upend a proven route into the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) this Saturday.

Every Sires’ winner for the last decade – bar one – has come off a fortnight’s break from the G2 Karrakatta Plate.  The only exception has been Prentice (Blackfriars) in 2014 and he has a link with Featherweight as both were bred and sold by Scenic Lodge.

Featherweight is none the worse for his narrow win over Ain’t No Other Man (Gingerbread Man) in the Crown Perth Plate (1100m) at Ascot last Saturday.  “He’s a happy horse and has pulled up well so we will press ahead,” Morton said.  “He had been unlucky not have won before last weekend.  He’s a nice horse in the making and will be all the better next season.”

Saturday’s win was his fourth start since a debut second to Pixie Chix at Ascot on February 21 and there were pre-race concerns he may have trained off.  “He was stirred up in the yard and it didn’t help when the start was delayed,” Morton added.  “He over-raced and was caught wide but fought it out to the line.  I thought he had won but wasn’t so sure after watching the replay.”

Featherweight was a $45,000 buy from Scenic Lodge at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions.  His dam Prime Knockout (Mossman) has also thrown LR Ascot 1000 Guineas winner Like A Butterfly (Blackfriars) and her latest foal is a weanling colt by Star Witness.

Second-dam Prime Again (Marooned) won a G2 Champion Fillies in Perth and a G3 Auraria Stakes in Adelaide.  Her foals include LR Bunbury Stakes winner Young Lionel (Blackfriars) and LR VRC Matron Stakes winner Lady Knockout (Serheed).

Featherweight was the first-leg of a running-double for Snippetson on Saturday.  The Dion Luciani-trained That’s Funny Az led home a trifecta for the Muchea nursery in the Amelia Park Hcp (1600m) when he defeated Blackfriars duo Mackenzie Brooke and Friaresque.

That’s Funny Az (4g Snippetson – Scenic Fair by Scenic) has won his last four in a row since resuming from a spell.  “I wouldn’t mind six horses just like him in the stable,” Luciani declared.  “He suffered from gastric ulcers previously and I have to thank Lindsey Smith for his advice.  That’s been the catalyst for the improvement.”

A $17,000 graduate from Scenic Lodge at the 2018 Perth Magic Millions, he has now earned $366,122 including Westspeed Bonuses of $110,850 for a partnership managed by Loloma Farms.  He will attempt to nail a picket-fence in the Diggers Cup (1800m) at Ascot in a fortnight.

Snippetson added some classic black-type later in the day when Kerman Rock was placed in the G2 WA Derby.  He had won a Northam maiden at the start of the season and is bred to make the grade as a stayer next season. 

Scenic Lodge bought his dam Brimarsco (Encosta de Lago) at the 2015 Inglis Great Southern Sale in Melbourne.  She is a daughter of Grand Journey who won the 2008 WA Derby when it was a Group 1.

Scenic Lodge has won the last 19 sires’ premierships in Western Australia but it has some unfinished business in the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) on Easter Saturday.

The Muchea Stud’s stallions provided the runner-up in 2018 – Lady Cosmology (Universal Ruler) and 2019 – Tinsnip (Snippetson) while in 2020 – Gemma’s Son (Snippetson) was beaten out of the placings as a long odds-on favourite.

Snippetson fronts up with a pair of frontline candidates from his third WA crop tomorrow and they are both rated highly in pre-post betting.  Spin The Knife is the second favourite in TAB markets at $8 and Storm Whisper is on the next line at $10.

Spin The Knife (2g Snippetson – Zany Lady by Zeditave) won his maiden on debut at Ascot in February and then came from a mile back to get within a couple of lengths of the winner in the LR Supremacy Stakes on March 7.  The Luke Fernie-trained youngster raced wide that day and cast a near-fore plate in running so there were excuses.  He was also sent back to the trials after proving difficult to load and he won that hit-out under a hold from Mitch Pateman.

Spin The Knife surprised Fernie with his forward showing first-up.  “It was a brave win after being headed.  Winning wasn’t part of the plan.  He was just here to learn so we’re very happy with the result.”

He cost $55,000 from Scenic Lodge at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions and general manager Jeremy Smith remembers him as one of the more precocious youngsters in the catalogue.  “He’s a striking chestnut from a running family.  He was all quality during inspections and looked a ripper!”

Storm Whisper (2g Snippetson – Cyclone Bella by Hurricane Sky) also won on debut at Bunbury in December and was last seen going down in a head-bobbing finish to the LR Perth Stakes (1100m). 

Stewards reported he returned to scale showing symptoms of tying up, however, trainer Neville Parnham will have him peaking on Saturday.  The WA Hall of Famer won the 2008 Karrakatta with Brava Fortune.

Parnham only had to pay $21,000 for Storm Whisper at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions partly because he was the last of 331 lots to parade in the Swan Valley.  He was also bred and sold by Scenic Lodge and is from a winning daughter of Belle Chanson (G1 Australasian Oaks).

The $500,000 Karrakatta result will turn the WA 2yo sires’ table upside down if a local stallion is successful.  Rommel, who has Ultimate Command engaged, heads the ladder on $354,122 from Snippetson ($304,692), Safeguard ($216,900), Playing God ($212,492) and I’m All The Talk ($192,292).

Stablemates Gemma’s Son and Jericho Missile are set for rewarding autumn campaigns after their rousing first-up runs in the MGIB Hcp (1000m) at Bunbury on Saturday.

Gemma’s Son (Snippetson) scored with something in hand and trainer David Harrison was equally pleased with Jericho Missile (Smart Missile) who ran home late to finish second about a length behind the winner.

In a sprint with plenty of depth, Gemma’s Son camped on the speed for 3kg claimer Kristy Bennett before angling to the centre of the track to collar the leaders at the furlong.  “They’re both (RL) Magic Millions 2yo Classic winners and it’s great to see them come back like that,” Harrison said.  “They’re in for nice preps.

“Gemma’s Son is a genuine horse and a pleasure to train.  He’s a lot stronger and settles better now.  I think he can get out in distance and be strong over a mile with the blinkers off.”

Harrison purchased Gemma’s Son from Scenic Lodge for $20,000 at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions and his earnings now amount to $809,300 including Westspeed bonuses of $232,240.  The winning syndicate includes Harrison’s wife Jenny, Ron O’Malley, Gerald Ryan, Graham & Megan Donovan, Keith & Carol Holly and Lex & Shirley Piper.

Snippetson’s former 2yo stakes winner Tinsnip returned to winning form with a narrow victory at Ascot on Sunday.

The Adam Durrant-trained 4yo never the left fence under Clint Johnston-Porter to narrowly defeat Invictus Domini (Playing God) in the Flying Colours Hcp (1400m).  He had won the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in April 2019 but didn’t fire during a 3yo season when he was never a factor in a half-dozen starts.

“We don’t really know what happened last year,” stable rep Jason Miller admitted.  “He had a an off prep but is in a good place now.  He ran well first-up last month and toughed it out today.”

Tinsnip is a homebred for David Elsegood and his dam Mabel Grace (Kendel Star) won five Listed events at Ascot in the York Stakes (1600m), Jungle Dawn Classic (1400m), La Trice Classic (1800m), Miss Andretti Stakes (1200m) and Matchmaker Classic (1400m).

His 3yo full-sister Snip’N’Tuck won a Kalgoorlie maiden for Elsegood and Durrant in September and she is set to resume at Mt Baker this Sunday.  Mabel Grace missed in 2018 and 2019 and was last covered by Playing God on September 16.

Tinsnip is one of 18 individual winners from Snippetson’s first crop at Scenic Lodge and they have won 42 races and over $1.88 million in prizemoney.

Gemma’s Son was in a different class when he created history in the RL Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (1200m) at Pinjarra on Saturday.

The Scenic Lodge graduate started a short-priced favourite and was bolting outside the speed in the early stages.  After being balanced by Paul Harvey at the top of the straight, he swept to the lead and won untouched by three lengths.

Gemma’s Son is the first horse to win the WA Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Trophy since the double was introduced in 2009.

“You can never be too over confident but he looked well in at the weights,” trainer David Harrison conceded.  “I was happy with how he travelled during the race and it’s a dream come true for the owners.  Some of them have been with me for 30 to 40 years!”

Harrison purchased the good-looking chestnut for $20,000 at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions and another six-figure prize on Saturday sent his earnings to $720,000.  Westspeed bonuses have supplied $185,440 as part of the bankroll.

The winning syndicate includes Harrison’s wife Jenny, Ron O’Malley, Gerald Ryan, Graham & Megan Donovan, Keith & Carol Holly and Lex & Shirley Piper.

Gemma’s Son had won his first four starts before losing that unbeaten record when fourth in the G2 Karrakatta Plate.  “He paraded like a real athlete as a yearling,” Harrison recalled.  “He has a great action and looked a natural 2yo last season.”

Snippetson got him from Princess Gemma (Dr Fong) who won at all four Sydney tracks up to 2000m.  His 2yo full-sister Snippagem finished right behind the placegetters in her first two starts at Ascot last month but faded from a forward position in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday.

Unbeaten Snippetson filly Sniparoochy opened an odds-on favourite in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, however, there were excuses for her below-par performance when vets reported she pulled up lame in the near-hind leg.

Scenic Lodge has 17 yearlings entered for the Perth Magic Millions including 11 from Scenic Lodge starting with the filly from Pearlesque (Lot 41).  “She’s a typical Snippetson – strong with plenty of size with a black-type page,” general manager Jeremy Smith said.  “She’s a stunning filly and is bred to be a star being a half-sister to Friar Fox and Friaresque.”

Smith also reported Scenic Lodge remained on high-alert during the bushfires, however, strong winds kept the damage below Muchea.

Perth trainer Stephen Miller was far from disappointed even though his exciting filly Sniparoochy was all out winning the Amelia Park Lodge Plate (1200m) last Saturday.

Sniparoochy had bolted in by five lengths on debut at Bunbury last month but had to overcome some smart youngsters at Ascot.  The Snippetson filly started odds-on in town and had to work outside the speed before taking a clear lead in the straight.

Favourite punters would have been happy at the furlong only to wonder if it was turning pear-shaped when Ex Sport Man (Playing God) and Hoi An (Longma) launched late bids.  “She had to dig deep to get the job done,” Miller said.  “She’s still raw and was looking around.  There weren’t any slouches in that field and the main thing is she’s two-for-two.”

Miller is undecided what path to take for the $250,000 Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at Pinjarra on February 6.  She will race with winkers next time and that could come as early as this Saturday in the Crown Perth Plate (1000m).

Sniparoochy (2f Snippetson – Mamaroochy by Duporth) is nicknamed ‘Ferrari’ by her owners who bought her for $67,500 at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions.  They also raced her older full-bother Bubaroochy who was the first locally-bred winner by Snippetson when he landed a plunge at Pinjarra in January 2019.

Sniparoochy is from the third crop sired by Snippetson since he relocated to Scenic Lodge from the Hunter Valley.  The second is headed by last year’s Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Gemma’s Son who resumes this Saturday after a midfield finish last time out in the G1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m).

Trainer David Harrison has nominated Gemma’s Son for the Devil’s Lair Plate (1000m) at Ascot.  He’s unbeaten first-up but has been burdened with 62.5kg less the claim for 3kg apprentice Maddi Derrick.

Snippetson fillies from Pearlesque (Lot 41) and Athena’s Me Mum (Lot 95) will attract prospective buyers on Day 1 of the 2021 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale on Monday, February 15.  “The Pearlesque is a half-sister to Friar Fox and is an awesome filly,” Scenic Lodge general manager Jeremy Smith said.  “She’s a typical Snippetson – strong with plenty of size and it’s a black-type page.”

The Scenic Lodge filly out of Athena’s Me Mum is an early August foal and is maturing into a filly who could complement the family of Group 1 winner Island Morn from back in the day when Dallas Dempster stood Marooned (GB) at Tilden Park.