Snitzel owner Damion Flower tells of a touching story where trainer Gerald Ryan bid A$10,000 more than he wanted.
It was the 2004 Magic Millions Yearling Sales on the Gold Coast where Flower and trainer Gerald Ryan decided they were going to bid for a Redoute’s Choice colt they liked. Flower had agreed for Ryan to bid up to A$250,000.
The price went up to A$255,000 and the racing mad owner was about to walk away when Ryan put in a final big at A$260,000 securing the colt.
That colt was Snitzel and the rest, as they say, is history. Damion Flower raced multi-Group Winner and Group One-winning Snitzel before selling an interest to Arrowfield but still holds shares in the hugely valuable stallion.
His passion for racing continues and he decided to invest in an Everest slot the moment he heard about it at a BBQ discloses Flower. “I was eating at a BBQ when I heard the concept. I thought to myself, this is a country mad about racing and I got to be a part of it “ There is A$10 million purse up for grabs. It’s a 1200m WFA Sprint race, which should capture Australia’s attention quite quickly I thought.
Australia tends to breed colonial speed horses and that’s what everyone looks for here. Speed!
The event is floated by ATC and Racing NSW. Bang, Bang Bang.
Everything fell in into place after speaking to Peter Vlandys I said, ‘I’m in’. I will take the first slot.”
Flower selected his horse earlier this year, after being one of the last slot holders to choose a horse last year.
“I had been approached by Charles Kelly of Newhaven Park, one of the most respected breedings and racing families in the Southern Hemisphere. I was very impressed, when he put forward the program and English’s resume outlining her speed and ability and even though I knew she was one of the best sprinting Mares in our country trained by Australia’s First Lady of Racing Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott I sat back and held it for week to watch Royal Ascot because there were some interesting horses there like Harry Angel and Lady Aurelia which I was considering at the time.
But eventually, I was won over by her.
She won her first start and since that day has only raced in Group races since and is obviously very high quality, classy mare. She appealed to me big time. Today she trialled very well, she seemed to look at her best.”
English is expected to trial once again in two weeks. She will then head into two prep races – The Shorts and The Premier.
“I will leave these things to the owner and trainers to plan her journey as they know her best,” says Flower.
He doesn’t seem overly concerned about the top-rated horses competing against his contender, English.
“Honestly, I think it’s much more of an even race than the market and people think and she is brilliant on her day, there is no doubt As he predicted Australian’s have fallen in love with The Everest, and so has the rest of the world. The race to crown the fastest printer in the world is on!
“Everyone wants to be the Usain Bolt of racing. Although it’s not yet recognised as a Group One race, its seen as the Richest WFA Race On Turf in the world and everyone will want to own the winner and if it’s a Colt then you will own a very valuable commercial stallion who won The Everest, hoping to breed little Bolts.”
Speaking about his friendship with Peter V’landis (CEO of Racing NSW), “Without Peter this would have never happened, His insight and foresight is second to none and He is the best operator”
Personally I think It will be very hard for another state to replicate it in Australia, although it might find some takers in mainland China one day with the strong progress they have.
Melbourne has its own identity with staying races like the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups along with the Cox Plate that is iconic but the “ Everest “ is iconic in its own way already and only after being 12 months old.
Eventually, I expect The Everest to be a world-class event with one day having a purse of A$20 million in prize money.”
The erstwhile champion surfer and property developer own a five-acre property which spills onto Hawkesbury Racecourse called Jade Skye Platinum Park with 7-day yards and 53 boxes, a 70m pool, a walker, treadmill and a huge round yard.
Jaden Skye is named after his two daughters Jade and Skye.
Eventually, he hopes to race his horses owned or bred by him. Although it’s still early days.
“We have a Snitzel colt called Sand Bar with my trainer Brad Widdup at Platinum Park who we think will be perfect for this race next year. I wanted there to be a slot available to me when that opportunity arose and I wanted to be relaxed about it,” he expressed with pride.
Damion Flower has made sure that the slot is always available by being the first slot holder to purchase.
Published in The Impact 2 Issue, 2 Vol
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Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com