Australia's newly crowned Champion Sire Snitzel has made an electrifying start to 2017/18, adding a Group race treble on Saturday and almost cracking the million-dollar mark - a mere 19 days into the new season.

(Pictured: Snitzel's 66th stakeswinner Dracarys (outside) gets the better of Gold Standard in the final stages of the ATC Up and Coming S. G3. PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

First up was the $150,000 ATC Up and Coming S. 1300m G3 and, on a very fast Randwick track, jockey Andrew Adkins elected to drop 3YO Snowden-trained colt Dracarys back off the pace. 

As Trapeze Artist led the field through the turn and into the straight, he was tackled by Sanctioned, but Gold Standard and Dracarys, who travelled four wide into the straight, swept past them and fought out the final 100 metres. Despite shifting a plate during the race, Dracarys won the battle by 0.2 length, setting a new track record of 1:14.76 for the 1300 metres, and Sanctioned finished third. 

Watch Dracarys win the ATC Up and Coming S. G3.

James Harron and clients bought four yearling colts from Arrowfield in 2016 and three of them are now Group winners: Gunnison (by Not A Single Doubt; ATC Todman S. G2; sold for $1.4 million as a 2YO and now in Hong Kong); Pariah (by Redoute's Choice; ATC Canonbury S. G3), and Dracarys. The fourth colt, Severence (by Redoute's Choice) is a recent maiden winner.

Dracarys is the first foal of dual stakeswinner Nocturnelle (by Elusive Quality) whose Redoute's Choice filly was bought for $650,000 by Shadwell Stud at the 2017 Inglis Easter Sale.

Pictured left to right, at Arrowfield's marquee at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale 
after buying Dracarys for $1 million, are Alison Harron, Rob & Donna Love, 
Belinda Bateman, James Harron & Fergus Doyle. (PHOTO: Arrowfield Stud)

Nocturnelle, from the family of multiple Group 1 winners Buffering and Intergaze, is due to foal again to Snitzel this Spring.

Dracarys has now won twice in four starts and co-trainer Paul Snowden noted his development from two to three. "He's a different animal, all he wants to do is relax and work with you.

"We've been very happy with what we've been seeing at home, his first prep was on raw ability, and what we're seeing now is a much more relaxed horse."

Dracarys, named after the word for dragonfire in the fictional Game of Thrones language High Valyrian, is stakeswinner No. 66 for Snitzel, who won the Up and Coming Stakes in 2005. 

He's also the 7th stakeswinner to emerge from Arrowfield's Yearling Class of 2016 after Group 1 winners Invader & Mustaaqeem, Group winners Gunnison & Pariah, and Listed winners Azazel & Ardrossan. 

An hour later in Melbourne, juvenile stakeswinner Jukebox opened his 3YO campaign in the $150,000 MRC Vain S. 1100m G3. Craig Williams settled him in a perfect position just behind the early leaders, but Jukebox still had to summon up a gritty finish to overhaul the resolute Plutocracy and score by 0.2 length, with Poseidon's Pool third and Ducimus (also by Snitzel) fourth.

Williams said, "At the top of the straight I was very concerned - he had a lovely run up till then, but I went from going comfortably to wanting, I was quite firm on him late and he really delivered. Today was the first time he's had to be a tough seasoned horse."

Watch Jukebox win the MRC Vain S. G3.

Bred by Oakland Park Stud (also the breeder of Ducimus), from the Perth 2YO Listed winner Jestatune (by Rory's Jester), Jukebox was offered by Blue Gum Farm at the 2016 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale where trainer Ciaron Maher bought him for $200,000. Unbeaten in three starts, including the rich Inglis 2YO Premier (R) LR, Jukebox has several options in front of him, with the VRC Danehill S. G2 on 16 September the likeliest target.

Back at Randwick, another of Snitzel's 2016/17 stakeswinners made a winning season debut, and again it was a heady performance, this time by 5YO mare Sweet Redemption. Her victory in the $150,000 ATC Toy Show Quality 1300m G3 was summed up by her jockey Adam Hyeronimus as a "really tough on pace win."

Watch Sweet Redemption win the ATC Toy Show Quality G3.

Bred by Bell View Park Stud, Sweet Redemption (ex Redeeming Lass by Red Ransom) was offered at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale where Bruce & Natasha Slade's Round Table Racing & James Harron Bloodstock bought her for $120,000. She has now won six races, including last season ATC Festival S. G3, and prizemoney of almost $390,000.

Dracarys, Jukebox & Sweet Redemption completed Snitzel's second stakes treble (after the Diddums-Invader-Heavenly Blue treble on 1 April 2017) and with Menari, have matched the four August stakes wins that opened Snitzel's 2016/17 Australian Premiership season.