The first 2YO Magic Millions Classic winner ended up being a dominant sire at stud

Snippets was a brilliant and courageous racehorse who proved himself a stallion of the highest quality. The colt’s dam, Easy Date, had been sold three times in 1985, first for $5000 at a small Scone sale, and then again by breeder Barry Gamer to John Augustine. She was carrying Snippets as she moved around the country. By Lunchtime, Snippets raced 14 times, collecting three Group ones to become Australia's 13th millionaire racehorse. He was named the 1987 co-champion 2-year-old of Australasia and the 1988 champion 3-year-old sprinter.

The concept for the 1986 Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale hung on 200 unreserved yearlings that would qualify for a one million race the following summer. This race would become what is now the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, run each January for $2 million, and it was the first of its kind anywhere in the world - a race restricted to graduates of a particular Sale. Snippets sold in 1986 for $22,000, purchased by Dalgety Bloodstock as a buy-back for John Augustine’s Gregadoo Stud Farm in Huntly, Victoria. Free of Star Kingdom blood and looking a little bit rough around the edges the yearling did not reach the reserve of $30,000 set by John Augustine.

The colt won his first race at Eagle Farm, and his second at the Gold Coast two days after Christmas. On January 10, 1987, he won the inaugural ‘Magic Million’ for 2-year-olds over 1200 metres, charging home to win by four lengths to Prince Anton at the Gold Coast Turf Club. His share of the prizemoney was $515,000, and he then skirted south for a runner-up finish to Beau Zam at Newcastle and a win in the Gr.3 Brambles Stakes at Kembla Grange. Thereafter he was fifth in the 1987 Gr.1 Golden Slipper, won by Marauding.

Snippets had failed in the pinnacle juvenile race of the season, but he returned a fortnight later at Randwick to win the Gr.1 Sires’ Produce Stakes. His two-year-old campaign wrapped up with seven starts for five wins and a second in Group company. As a 3-year-old colt, he won the Gr.2 Challenge Stakes, Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield and the Gr.1 The Galaxy on a Heavy 10 at Randwick. He was second to Special in the Gr.1 Lightning Stakes in 1988, and unplaced to the same mare in the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap.

Arrowfield Stud gained Snippets in 1994 when Trans Media closed, and led by his young sire sons Spartacus, Pins and High Rolling, his stock won more than A$35 million. Trainers were keen to obtain his quick-maturing progeny and 25 of his yearlings averaged $108,300 with a median of $100,000 at the Magic Millions. Snippets had retired from the track in the autumn of 1988, a rising 4-year-old with a remarkable career behind him. He was picked up for standing rights by Mike Willesee’s Trans Media Park Stud at Cootamundra, which later became a branch of Woodlands Stud. He was a remarkable stallion, the sire of 55 stakes winners of 119 stakes wins, including Hasna, the speedy juvenile filly that won the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes and Gr.1 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes in 2003.

He sired High Rolling, winner of the AJC Breeders’ Plate, and Akhenaton, who won the Gr.1 Doomben Cup, as well as the significant Group winners Snowland, Sky Cuddle, Spartacus, Sublimate and Casual Pass. Snippets is also the sire of Pins, who won the Gr.1 VRC Australian Guineas and four other Group races, and who in turn has sired 80 stakes winners, including Gr.1 Cox Plate winner El Segundo, while stakes winner Snippetson has sired 13 further stakes winners, including Fast Clip, winner of the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes and Gr.3 Doncaster Prelude. His daughter Scandinavia is the dam of Helsinge, who foaled Black Caviar (Bel Esprit). Equally, Legally Bay is a daughter of Snippets that produced three stakes winners, among them the Royal Ascot-winning and now emerging Coolmore sire Merchant Navy. When Snippets died in 2002, at 17 years old, he’d left a remarkable legacy that continued to blossom, and still does.

RACE RECORD - 14: 9-2-0

EARNINGS - $1,083,600 

Magic Millions 2YO (inaugural 1987)

Oakleigh Plate

Galaxy Handicap