Latest Update
4th July2025
Introducing our latest tried acquisition, DARK ARTS, a quality son of the mighty Snitzel out of a Group performed Zabeel mare, making a half-brother to Stakewsinner, ZASZOU..
Dark Arts was a $600,000 yearling at Magic Millions Gold Coast ‘23 acquired by a stallion syndicate which included highly respected names such as Peter Orton (Vinery Stud), Bruce Wilson (Glentree Thoroughbreds), Rupert Legh (Chautauqua, Brutal, Alabama Express, Grunt, Exceedance and co) and leviathan HK owner Kwok Chun Wai just to name a few.
Unfortunately for the syndicate, Dark Arts had to be gelded so it was time to move him on and as a result, we are the lucky beneficiaries.
We were particularly happy to secure this horse… not only will he be an exciting racing prospect for his new owners but to have one of Snitzel’s last progeny will be a thrill in itself.
Formerly with Team Hawkes, Dark Arts has a very bright future. He will enjoy a new lease on life when he transfers to the leading Tony Gollan yard in Brisbane. Tony was very pleased to be offered to train him and as you can hear in the video below, he is looking forward to getting his hands on the handsome specimen. He is currently in the paddock but is not far off returning to pre-training then back into full work. We expect him back at the track early to mid-November.
He is a versatile galloper, can be up on the speed or back ridden with a sit as indicated with his impressive win at Canterbury when he looped the field from back behind them. The form out of that race stacks up incredibly. 2nd placed Shangri La Impact won twice since before failing to stay the trip in a Gr.1. 3rd placed Ant won his next two races too. And to maintain the pattern, 4th placed won his next 2. 5th placed Viktor won his next and only start while last placed Dark Stratum followed that race with a 3rd and 4th then would you believe… two successive wins.
Although a bottomless Heavy 10 was his undoing at his next star, he handles the lighter side of heavy and is just as capable on a Good 4. Testament to his soundness. Which, after a thorough going over by OUR OWN VET, he showed he is 110% sound structurally and we also had him scoped and he is clean winded. No doubt, it won’t take long until Tony works him out and the sky could be the limit for his new career up in Queensland.
Sire
SNITZEL A world-class 10% Stakeswinners/Runners strike rate, outstanding success as a sire of 58 stakes-winning juveniles and the robustness & versatility that puts his progeny in Australia’s best 2YO, 3YO, sprint & mile races.
That’s why Snitzel continues to make a spectacular impact on Australian racing & breeding, setting new benchmarks of performance as an elite sire and a big-race stallion par excellence.
Two Golden Slippers, four Guineas, two Golden Roses, a pair of Everests, the Cox Plate, All Aged, Flight Stakes & Coolmore Stud Stakes, an Inglis Sires’ trifecta, two Magic Millions 2YO Classics and most of Australia’s big sprints all feature on Snitzel’s progeny record.
That record is headed by Champion 3YO Colt Trapeze Artist, Champion Sprinter Redzel, Champion 2YO Estijaab and 18 other Group 1 winners, including the brilliant 2024 Coolmore Stud S. G1 winner Switzerland.
Four General, four 2YO & two 3YO Sire Premierships, 27 Group 1 victories, 12 category Champions, 5 Inglis Easter Sale-toppers & 60 million-dollar yearlings are top-of-the-mountain achievements already on Snitzel’s record.
But with an average of 23 stakes wins every season since 2016/17 and 19 stakeswinners already from his latest 3 crops of racing age, there is no slowing down for Snitzel, with 11 stakeswinners including G1 winners Lady Shenandoah & Switzerland in the first 4 months of 2024/25. Plus, he has more than 300 sons & daughters bred on six-figure fees and yet to run from his 2022-2024 crops.
And just like his sire, the legendary Redoute’s Choice, Snitzel is rapidly creating his own legacy, through 16 stakes-siring sons (inc. 6 Group 1 sires), and his broodmare daughters, already the source of 37 stakeswinners, including 2024 Group 1 winners Private Life, Captured By Love, Celestial Legend, Pinstriped & Velocious. Unfortunately, we lost Snitzel recently but his legacy lives on through his fast and powerful progeny.
Snitzel has sired 22 individual Group 1 winners.
Dam
ZASORCERESS An absolutely stunning mare as you can see in the picture above, daughter of the famed Zabeel, ZASORCERESS was a quality horse in her own right. A City winner over 1600 and 1800, she was twice placed at Group 3 level. She produced 3 to race, ALL WINNERS, incl. Listed winner, ZASZOU. The Snitzel / Zabeel cross is the 2nd most successful of all time with a 75% winner to runner Strike Rate and 11% Stakes winners.
Trainer
In the vibrant landscape of Australian thoroughbred racing, Tony Gollan stands as a towering figure – synonymous with excellence, consistency, and a relentless drive for success. Based at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane, Gollan has transformed his stable into a powerhouse operation, dominating the Queensland scene while earning national acclaim for his ability to develop elite racehorses and maintain year-round performance at the highest level.
Born and raised in Toowoomba, Gollan’s passion for racing runs deep. The son of respected trainer Darryl Gollan, Tony grew up around horses, developing an instinctive understanding of their needs from a young age. While he briefly pursued a rugby league career in his youth, the lure of the track proved stronger, and he ultimately committed himself fully to the family’s racing roots. In the early 2000s, he took out his own trainer’s licence, operating first from Toowoomba before making a bold move to Brisbane in search of greater opportunity and exposure to elite competition.
That decision would prove pivotal. Gollan’s rise was steady and strategic, built on hard work, sharp placement, and a focus on continual improvement. His breakthrough moment came with Temple of Boom, a tenacious sprinter who captured the Group 1 Galaxy in 2012 and later ran with distinction in the country’s biggest sprints, including the Stradbroke Handicap. It was a defining victory—one that signalled Gollan’s arrival on the national stage and set the tone for what would become a remarkable career.
Since then, Tony Gollan has cemented his place as Queensland’s most dominant trainer, winning an unprecedented number of metropolitan premierships. His stable has produced a long list of stakes winners, including Vega One, Outback Barbie, Boomsara, Jonker, and Baller, to name a few. Gollan is known for his ability to consistently deliver black-type performers, particularly sprinters and middle-distance horses, and for maintaining high strike rates in both city and carnival-level racing.
What sets Gollan apart is his meticulous attention to detail, his embrace of modern training techniques, and his unwavering commitment to each horse under his care. He oversees a large, well-structured team that combines elite trackwork riders, form analysts, and veterinarians, ensuring every horse benefits from a tailored program that supports performance and longevity. Despite the size of his operation, Gollan remains intimately involved in the planning, preparation, and progression of his runners—a trait that endears him to owners and syndicators across the country.
Equally important is Gollan’s reputation off the track. He is widely admired for his professionalism, transparent communication, and dedication to developing long-term relationships with clients. His stable has become a go-to destination for owners seeking not just results, but a premium ownership experience grounded in trust and integrity. As he continues to expand his influence beyond Queensland—regularly targeting features in Sydney, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast – Tony Gollan remains a model of sustained excellence in Australian racing. With a proven record, a deep pipeline of emerging talent, and a mindset focused on growth and adaptability, he is well-positioned to build on his legacy and achieve even greater heights in the seasons to come.
Nominations and Bonuses
Not Applicable.
Costings
Share Price Includes – Purchase Price, Agistment, X-Rays & Clinical Examination, Scoping and Mortality Insurance is covered up to the 31st July 2026.
Ongoing Expenses and MMF: The Ongoing Expenses consist of a $77 flat Monthly Management Fee (MMF) per owner, regardless of share percentage. The remainder of the fees are the Ongoing Expenses for the horse billed monthly, in arrears, which are split between the owners based on their percentage held. The following are estimated total monthly costs based on averages, as the Ongoing Expenses for the horse do vary depending on the current whereabouts of the horse i.e. training, spelling etc. The following amounts include both the $77 MMF and the average Ongoing Expenses combined:
- 2.5% – $162 estimated total monthly cost
- 5% – $247 estimated total monthly cost
- 10% – $417 estimated total monthly cost
Your first monthly fee will due on the 28th October 2025 (or the next business day if the 28th falls on a weekend or public holiday).
