Oh Susanna wins the Met (G1)

It took the family four decades and seven second cheques – and fifteen years on his own – but Justin Snaith probably couldn’t have scripted a greater Met icebreaking fairytale if he had written the chapter himself.

A first Snaith Met win, the first 3yo filly to win the Cape flagship in over a century for Justin’s top owners Drakenstein Stud – and a chance to meet one of the globe’s sporting icons in the process. It doesn’t get too much better than that!

Snaith Racing achieved their Cape summer season goal on a memorable day that incorporated a glorious Gr1 treble for the dream team.

Met day dominance has become a regular activity on the Snaith marketing calendar, and they pulled off their biggest coup to date on Saturday with a smashing daughter of Street Cry.

With the race being run at weight-for-age for the first time in history, the treble L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate champion Legal Eagle was widely expected to get third time lucky. But it was not to be in a race that saw plenty of tactical jockeying for positions early on. Stablemate to the winner, Krambambuli led Legal Eagle at a fair gallop, with Oh Susanna tucked up in sixth, about five lengths off the leaders. In the rush for home, Anton Marcus sent Legal Eagle down the middle as Captain America made his move slipping through the inside path. At the 200m marker Legal Eagle was being hailed a popular winner. and had them at full stretch as Oh Susanna and Marinaresco chased hard. The race changed complexion at the 75m marker as Oh Susanna hit the front – with Legal Eagle on the skids with the needle in the red.

As Grant van Niekerk commenced his victory celebration four strides from the line, Piere Strydom swooped as he launched Last Winter from a hopeless looking position 10 lengths back at the 200m, to get within a half length of the winner.

“It was a rough race early on and I didn’t want to bustle her. I was further back than I wanted to be but I knew she would give it to me late,” said Grant van Niekerk.

“To win it for Gaynor Rupert and Drakenstein – and to meet Usain Bolt. Oh boy! I thought we were gone in the final 400m. She had a hard race early. What a great achievement by a 3yo filly. What a great day – I’m thrilled for all of us,” he added.

The winner was bred by Drakenstein Stud and is by Street Cry out of the valuable USA six-time winner Sharp Susan (Touch Gold), who was purchased for A$1 million in foal to Street Cry in 2012 by Badgers Bloodstock. The good news is that Sharp Susan is in foal to Galileo and will foal down in late February.

Oh Susanna has won 3 races – 2 Gr1’s – with 3 places from 8 starts for stakes of R3 773 375.

Usain Bolt couldn’t have beaten her on the day.