Hermitage pay up for another Snitzel filly at 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast

Hermitage Thoroughbreds set a new filly benchmark at this year’s Magic Millions sale, paying $1.6 million for a Snitzel youngster shortly after watching Lady Shenandoah trial at Randwick.

The high-profile purchase came at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where the Arrowfield Stud-consigned filly became the most expensive of her gender for the week.

The daughter of Snitzel, out of War Emblem mare Madame Andree, was secured by Hermitage at around 11.30am on Thursday.

Just hours earlier, Hermitage’s flagship mare Lady Shenandoah made her first public appearance of the preparation in a low-key trial under Chris Waller.

She travelled comfortably near the speed and coasted home into fourth, beaten just under three lengths, without being placed under pressure.

“She looked ready to explode this morning in her trial,” racing manager Shannon Clarke said.

“She’s come back bigger and stronger and it’s a very exciting autumn hopefully.

“She was very unlucky (in spring). She never disgraced herself in any run that she had, just a few things went wrong in those four starts, but it didn’t knock her confidence.”

The heat was taken out by Enriched, with Manaal and Golden Slipper hopeful Incognito in the placings, while Golden Rose winner Beiwacht finished close behind.

Autumn Glow, another Hermitage-associated runner, also resumed with a soft trial, finishing fifth behind Shangri La Boy in a heat featuring Flight Stakes winner Apocalyptic and Sir Delius.

Via Sistina and Aeliana added further depth to the morning, finishing less than a head apart in the final trial.

While the newly purchased filly is still some way from raceday, Clarke said the parallels with Lady Shenandoah were clear.

“She was our top pick for the sale,” Clarke said.

“Obviously we’ve had a lot of luck with a Snitzel filly recently and that’s probably guided us into this filly today.

“They’re both very athletic fillies. They just have an athletic physique, they showed that early on at their parades; nice leg on them (and) are good movers.”

As the sale rolls on, interest in elite racing prospects is reflected across major horse racing betting sites ahead of the autumn carnival.

At the time of sale, only two $2 million colts had fetched higher prices during the opening days of the auction.

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