Snowdrop sizzles on return

29 October 2015

Snowdrop has a lot to live up to on pedigree and she hasn’t disappointed so far. The four-year-old collected two wins and a placing from her last four-start preparation and she resumed on a top note at Ruakaka this afternoon.

Trainer Tony Pike had her primed for a bold first-up showing when she led all the way to put away a handy field of Rating 75 sprinters. “They went pretty quickly and she really kicked on well,” rider Leith Innes said. “She’s a tough little filly and I love her.”

A daughter of Pins, Snowdrop is the first foal of the stud’s triple Group One winner Daffodil (NZ 1000 Guineas, Windsor Park Plate, AJC Oaks). It is also the family of the former crack two-year-old and Group One winner Good Faith (ARC Sires’ Produce Stakes).

Pure Alpha delivers again as Ardrossan continues to rise

Ardrossan gelding Pure Alpha led throughout to win by 1.29 lengths at Eagle Farm for owner Ozzie Kheir, taking his earnings past $300,000. The result caps a stellar run for sire Ardrossan, whose yearlings fetched up to $450,000 this year on strong Hong Kong form.

28 August 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It is difficult to maintain momentum when sitting in judgment of racing’s governance. After all, I get no pleasure in searching for non-credible decisions, but one is perpetually bewildered by the rationale behind many of the positions that make little sense.