‘That Gold Coast win changed my life forever’
TO Andrew Augustine, Snippets was a sporting hero.
Augustine was just 14 when he watched Snippets easily win inaugural Magic Millions 2YO Classic from the television set of his parents’ Melbourne home.
His father John — who died in 2002 aged 59 — was the managing owner of the horse that has become legend for its feats at the Gold Coast Turf Club and across the country. The horse cost them $22,000.
For Augustine, now 45, it was an event that changed his life forever.
“I was only a kid at the time and Dad didn’t take me up to the Coast,” Augustine said.
“I was watching the race on the TV and they actually interrupted the cricket to go to the inaugural running of this race that no one really knew much about.
“Dad rang me shortly after to ask if I had seen it. The excitement for me came the next day when I was reading all about it in the newspapers. It made back page headlines in all the papers.
“They were very confident Snippets was going to do what he did — blow the field away.
“He was really the raging hot favourite. Dad was a competitive beast and he liked the fact that there was that pressure coming into the race.”
Snippets went on to win the Brambles Classic and AJC Sires before finishing an unlucky fourth in the Golden Slipper. As a three-year-old, he won the VATC Oakleigh Plate, AJC Galaxy, Carrington Stakes, Challenge Stakes, Produce Stakes, second to Special in the VRC Lightning Stakes before going to stud.
His nine wins from 14 starts netted connections over $1 million in stakes. He died in 2002, aged 17, after an illness.
Augustine said Snippets started an obsession in racing and a love for the sport that continues today.
“To me, he was a sporting hero,” Augustine said. “He totally captured my imagination and every emotion in my body ever since. It’s amazing how you have this spiritual connection with a horse. I almost became obsessed by racing then.
“Some of my fondest memories are with dad after Snippet’s career. We would be having a beer and a punt together at the pub and scouring through the form guides to look for sons and daughters of Snippets.”
Saturday’s $1 million Magic Millions Sprint has been renamed the Magic Millions Snippets as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of the horse’s victory.
Augustine will be on hand to present the trophy won by Snippets in 1987 in what will become a family tradition.
“It will be a great honour every year. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s great for my family and a great way to honour Snippets’ legacy as the inaugural Magic Millions winner.”