Snitty Kitty sprints to Group Two victory

A mare trainer Henry Dwyer thought would struggle to win a race has continued her rapid rise to prominence with a dominant victory in a feature sprint on Caulfield Cup day.

Four-year-old Snitty Kitty made the step up to Group racing with ease as she broke the race record for the Group Two Caulfield Sprint (1000m) on Saturday.

It was Snitty Kitty’s second stakes victory after a Listed success in Brisbane, and her sixth career win from 11 starts.

Dwyer now has his sights on next year’s Group One Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield, a far cry from his early expectations.

“To start with when she was a younger horse we thought she was going to struggle to win a race,” Dwyer said.

“She never showed anything at all.

“We took her to Wangaratta trials for her first ever trial because we didn’t think we could take her to Cranbourne because we thought she’d embarrass us.”

On a wet track the then filly won that trial by eight lengths.

Dwyer found a race for Snitty Kitty and she finished fourth on debut in a Bendigo maiden in August last year before winning at her next start.

“And she has just kept improving every step of the way,” Dwyer said.

“And she’s still improving. She’s by no means found her mark.”

Snitty Kitty sat just off leader Super Too before storming to the front passing the 200m.

With apprentice Beau Mertens aboard, Snitty Kitty ($3.40) surged clear to beat Super Too by 2-1/4 lengths with another length to Faatinah third.

She clocked 56.28sec, bettering Lumosty’s race record of 57.50 and going close to Lucky Secret’s track record of 55.97.

“That was impressive,” Dwyer said.

“She’s broken the race record and she has done it pretty easily, it would seem.

“Every race she wins or she runs second but she does it without raising a sweat. She’s a really dynamic mare and she keeps improving.

“She’s been winning restricted races and now a Group Two and done it pretty easily.”

“Once she puts it all together I reckon she’s going to be a pretty good mare.”