Snitzel has etched another significant chapter into Australian breeding history, reclaiming the Australian Champion Stallion title for the 2025/26 season. This accomplishment makes him only the second sire ever to regain this honour after a period of holding it for at least four consecutive years.
The esteemed Arrowfield Stud stallion previously dominated the General Sires’ Premiership from 2016/17 to 2019/20. He then yielded the crown to Written Tycoon, before I Am Invincible claimed the next three titles, and Zoustar took top honours last season.
Historically, only the legendary Star Kingdom has previously reclaimed the title following such sustained dominance, winning four straight premierships from 1959 to 1962 before regaining the title in 1965.
Snitzel has now joined that exclusive group of stallions.
His progeny amassed an impressive $26,029,187 in prizemoney during the 2025/26 season, finishing more than $4 million clear of Zoustar to secure his fifth Champion Stallion title.
The latest success comes 10 seasons after his first premiership, a longevity only bettered by his grandsire Danehill, who won nine titles across 11 seasons, and Better Boy, whose four premierships were spread across 12 seasons.
“He was a marvellous stallion for the farm,” said 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 continued, “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 in June last year just short of his 22nd birthday, was represented by 291 runners during the season, with 146 individual winners combining for 226 victories.
His influence was strongly felt at the highest level, producing a career-best six individual Group 1 winners. Baraqiel won 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 haul by winning the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and the Champagne Stakes respectively.
Those two juvenile victories also helped Snitzel edge out Home Affairs in a thrilling Champion Two-Year-Old Stallion race. His two-year-olds earned $4,988,245 for the season, finishing less than $20,000 ahead of Home Affairs, whose first crop included Golden Slipper winner Guest House.
It was the first time since 2020 that the Champion Two-Year-Old Stallion title had been won by a sire other than the Golden Slipper winner’s father, with Snitzel also achieving that feat five years earlier.
Snitzel finished the season with 32 stakes wins, his highest tally since producing 45 in his career-best 2016/17 campaign, while his number of individual stakes winners climbed to 175.
Although his influence will naturally diminish as his final crops make their way to the racetrack, Messara remains optimistic the champion stallion can continue making his presence felt. “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 said. “The game is not over.”
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