'She'll have pizza tonight' - unusual diet helps Australian mare devour Group 1

Pizza, beer, crisps and chicken schnitzel.

As a diet it may sound more couch potato than top-class athlete, but it works for Australian-trained mare Nettoyer, as she sprung a 40-1 surprise in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick early on Saturday morning.

Winning trainer Wendy Roche revealed her star performer's unique food plan following a first top-level success for herself and jockey James Innes jnr.

"I'm just so emotional, this mare is such a sod," she said. "All week I couldn't ride her. I just freshened her and did 200m sprints. She bit the strapper in the head and he had to get stitches. I can't believe it. I've told everyone she would win today and she's won."

James Innes Jnr and Wendy Roche celebrate their win in The Stars Doncaster MileCredit: Matt King (Getty Images)

Roche added: "She's going to get pizza tonight, I can tell you. She eats supreme pizza with capsicum sauce. She normally has some chicken schnitzel too, she eats everything."

A five-time winner, Nettoyer created quite a stir last November after being sighted on Australian television drinking a glass of beer following her run in the Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes at Melbourne.

Roche also previously revealed the daughter of Sebring enjoys champagne, fish and chips, ice blocks and bacon and egg toasted sandwiches with two sauces.

Nettoyer, who finished fourth to William Haggas's Addeybb at Rosehill last month, has not always made life easy on those attempting to get her to the start, with Roche keeping crisps in her pocket to tempt the talented performer towards the stalls.

Nettoyer: recorded a first Group 1 win at Randwick in The Star Doncaster MileCredit: Matt King (Getty Images)

That recalcitrance played out again on Saturday, with Nettoyer not interested in crisps before her winning effort in the Doncaster.

Roche added: "She wouldn't take grass, I have chips in my pocket but she wouldn't do any of it. I really thank the clerks of the course for getting her there and the barrier attendants.

"I think the barrier attendant actually backed her because he jumped out of the car and chased her all the way!"

Of the post-race celebrations, Roche said: "I don't know what I'm going to do because all the restaurants are shut. We normally stop at the Doncaster and get beers so I don't think we can do that either."

Nettoyer: mare with a unique diet landed Randwick Group 1Credit: Matt King (Getty Images)

Nettoyer is certainly not the only horse to indulge in an alcoholic beverage. Legendary chaser Arkle was known to dine on two pints of Guinness, blended into his oats ration with an egg or two, daily.

His fondness for the black stuff eventually saw his supply charged to the account of the Guinness head office.

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