Snitzel half-brother to Winx snapped up to stand at Riverside Farm

In a coup for breeders in Victoria, Australia, Riverbank Farm has secured an unraced Snitzel half-brother to the world's highest-rated racehorse Winx to stand at its Benalla stud this year.

The three-year-old Boulder City is out of Vegas Showgirl and will be the first son of Snitzel to stand at a commercial stud in Victoria.

Snitzel is the reigning champion Australian sire, Australia's highest-priced stallion and the progenitor of 83 stakes winners including 13 Group 1 winners.

Stakes-winning sprinter Vegas Showgirl has not only produced one of the greatest racehorses of all time in wondermare Winx, but also the ill-fated Group 3 winner El Divino, who was a brother to Boulder City.

"The decision to retire Boulder City to stud before commencing his racing career was a very difficult one," said Russell Osborne, who runs Riverbank with wife Caroline.

"He's had a number of minor issues that were becoming harder to manage and, after the devastating loss of his full-brother, the owners decided to meet the market demand and offer him at stud.

"Everyone involved would dearly loved to have seen him get to the race track and have the opportunity to emulate his big sister, however we believe offering his superior bloodlines to the breeding industry is a great thing for breeders."

Due to stand at a fee of A$5,500 including GST, Boulder City is expected to be in high demand, with New South Wales- and Queensland-based sons of Snitzel such as Shamus Award, Sizzling, Sooboog, Spill The Beans and Wandjina all serving large books.

Snitzel's big race winners include Redzel, Russian Revolution, Trapeze Artist and, this year, his first Golden Slipper winner Estijaab. His progeny’s racetrack and sales ring results this season have seen his fee increase to A$220,000 (£123,000/€140,000) in 2018.

With Boulder City's half-sister Winx racing on through the spring and his dam Vegas Showgirl booked into visit Japan's superstar stallion Deep Impact, it is onwards and upwards for this exciting young horse's pedigree.

A A$2.3 million Easter graduate for Gai Waterhouse and Julian Blaxland, Boulder City is described by Russell Osborne as "a beautifully conformed stallion who we feel privileged to offer to the Victorian breeding industry."

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