Caulfield Classic and Ethereal Stakes Produce New Classic Hopefuls

The complexion of the Spring Carnival's two major Group 1 Classics was altered on Saturday with the emergence of two significant new players at Caulfield.

King Snitz has propelled himself into Victoria Derby calculations following a last-stride triumph in the Caulfield Classic, while Quick Finish has climbed the Oaks betting charts after outlasting her rivals in the Ethereal Stakes.

Quick Finish, under the guidance of Tony and Calvin McEvoy, recorded her third consecutive win. As a $15 chance, she battled valiantly to secure a tough half-length victory over Your Colour ($9) in the $240,000 Group 3 race over 2000 metres.

Jye McNeil, who has guided the daughter of Grunt in all four of her career starts, beginning with a fifth at Bendigo on July 30, followed by a maiden win at Ballarat Synthetic and an 1800m success at Caulfield, has been thoroughly impressed by her development.

"Crazy to think we've come from a Ballarat Synthetic maiden to where we are today," McNeil commented. "She's a free-rolling horse who enjoys that role up in front and I was stoked with her performance."

"She obviously stays. As the races have gotten longer, she's really come into her own, each time the team has raised the bar she's up for the challenge and hopefully we're on the way to the Oaks."

Quick Finish has subsequently shortened to $8 in the betting for the Oaks on November 5, a 2500m contest, with Sydney filly Proxima Dea ($4.50) and Your Colour ($6) ahead of her, the latter catching the eye with her strong finish in the Ethereal.

Miss Waititi, once a leading Oaks fancy, is now out to $15, while Fringilla – who started as the $2.90 favourite in the Ethereal Stakes – is now priced at $11 after finishing fifth, beaten just under two lengths.

Reputations were less impacted in the Caulfield Classic, also a Group 3 event over 2000m worth $240,000, where Vallice and Cignetti maintained their standing despite not winning.

They had to settle for minor placings, but both were defeated by less than a head behind King Snitz, a colt trained by Shane Jackson, who has experienced a similar upward trajectory to Quick Finish.

King Snitz did not make his debut until August 28, finishing third-last in a 1347m maiden at Geelong. He was then placed at the same track over 1700m before an impressive 2000m maiden win at Warrnambool leading into the Caulfield Classic.

He now poses a chance to provide Snitzel, a distinguished sire primarily known for his sprinters, with a Derby victory, and Jackson indicated the colt would be present at Flemington on October 31, provided his preparation continues smoothly.

"The horse comes first rather than putting on the black and white suit, which I'd love to, and I'm sure Tony would too, but that's the aim," Jackson explained. "We'll just see how he pulls up from this back down to the beach and wrap him in cotton wool and on to the next step."

King Snitz and Vallice are now level at $8 in Derby betting, alongside Diameter, behind only True Rebel ($6). Cignetti is available at $11.

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