Snitzel has cemented his elite status in Australian breeding circles by reclaiming the Australian Champion Stallion title for the 2025/26 season. This notable achievement makes him just the second sire in history to regain the honour after a period of holding it for at least four consecutive seasons.
The prominent Arrowfield Stud sire had previously dominated the General Sires’ Premiership from 2016/17 through to 2019/20. He then saw the title pass to Written Tycoon, followed by I Am Invincible’s three-year winning streak, and last season’s top sire, Zoustar.
Historically, only the legendary Star Kingdom has managed to regain the title after such a sustained period of dominance, achieving four straight premierships from 1959 to 1962 before regaining it in 1965.
Snitzel has now joined this distinguished company.
His progeny amassed a substantial $26,029,187 in prizemoney during the 2025/26 season, finishing more than $4 million ahead of Zoustar to secure his fifth Champion Stallion title.
This latest milestone arrives 10 seasons after his inaugural premiership, a longevity surpassed only by his grandsire Danehill, who claimed nine titles across 11 seasons, and Better Boy, whose four premierships were spread across 12 seasons.
“He was a marvellous stallion for the farm,” declared Arrowfield principal John Messara. “Following on from Redoute’s Choice he was a worthy contender and also from the same sire line. It’s been great that we’ve had Danehill, then Redoute’s, then this bloke off that one sire line.”
Messara further commented, “He (Snitzel) started off in a fairly humble way, but over time he’s built his record up and now he’s very much at the top of the game. We’re just sorry that he’s gone, but he did a wonderful job while he was here and we’re very grateful to him.”
Snitzel, who passed away last June just before his 22nd birthday, had 291 runners across the season. These horses achieved 146 individual wins, contributing to a total of 226 victories.
His influence was evident at the highest level of racing, producing a career-best six individual Group 1 winners. Baraqiel triumphed in the Moir Stakes, Transatlantic captured the Toorak Handicap, Lazzura claimed the Coolmore Classic, while Golden Slipper winner Marhoona added the The Galaxy to her record.
Campione D’Italia and Fireball completed the Group 1 success by winning the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and the Champagne Stakes respectively.
These two juvenile victories also played a key role in Snitzel narrowly defeating Home Affairs in the highly competitive Champion Two-Year-Old Stallion race. His two-year-olds earned $4,988,245 for the season, finishing just under $20,000 ahead of Home Affairs, whose first crop included the Golden Slipper winner Guest House.
This marks the first occasion since 2020 that the Champion Two-Year-Old Stallion title has been awarded to a sire other than the sire of the Golden Slipper winner, a feat Snitzel himself achieved five years prior.
Snitzel concluded the season with 32 stakes wins, his highest tally since his career-best 2016/17 campaign when he recorded 45 wins. The number of individual stakes winners also rose to 175.
Although his influence will naturally wane as his final progeny enter racing, Messara remains optimistic about the champion stallion’s continued impact. “We’ve got some nice yearlings for next season, he had some nice yearlings last season that’ll come out as two-year-olds very shortly, so hopefully he’s got another couple of seasons,” Messara stated. “The game is not over.”
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