Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Coolmore Stud has announced that G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland will stand at their Australian farm for the 2025 season for his first season. A stakes winner at two, and winner of the sire making Group 1 sprint at three, Switzerland is a son of Champion Sire Snitzel.
Switzerland has it all
It’s oft-quoted that a horse ticks all the boxes, but it’s rare to see a horse who actually achieves this. Switzerland is one of those rare finds – a seven figure yearling, a group winner at two, and winner of one of Australia’s greatest sire-making Group 1 sprints at three.
“He was a special horse from the minute we saw him at the Easter sale, and we had to spend plenty of money to get him, but he was one we didn’t want to leave behind, " said Tom Magnier. "And right from the start, at the farm, and then going into Chris (Waller)’s system, Chris and all the riders were adamant he was the one from very early on. He came out and won his first three starts as an early 2-year-old very impressively announcing himself as one of the early favourites for the Golden Slipper."
Tom Magnier | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He had a slight injury in the Golden Slipper which was announced at the time but came back in the spring, trained on and went to another level, highlighted by his dominant victory in Coolmore Stud Stakes, where he produced an effort that would rate him an absolute freak. He was almost unbeatable that day.
“He showed himself to be a special colt that day and he’s probably the best 3-year-old colt this season in Australia. More often than not, the Coolmore Stud Stakes is won by the dominant sprinter of their generation and Switzerland was the fastest winner of the race in 20 years.
“He (Switzerland) showed himself to be a special colt that day and he’s probably the best 3-year-old colt this season in Australia.” - Tom Magnier
“He joins the stallion barn alongside fellow Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Home Affairs, who was raced by similar connections. We consider ourselves extremely lucky.”
From great expectations comes glory
When Switzerland was purchased by Coolmore for $1.5 million at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Tom Magnier told TTR, “(Damsire) Blame is something you love to see in a pedigree. This horse was a very nice type, and all the team really liked him. Obviously, he’s by Snitzel, so you’re trying to find the next Shinzo. You need some luck buying colts, but he’s one of the standouts of the week.
“He is a lovely type with great quality. He was a great mover and we’re just delighted to get this colt. Arrowfield have their horses looking very well. We have a great group of people and fingers crossed he’s a good horse.”
Switzerland as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
It turned out to be a wonderful prophecy as the colt certainly showed brilliance early winning his first three in succession including the G2 Todman Stakes.
He didn’t run up to expectations in the G1 Golden Slipper, and like many colts, Switzerland mixed his form a little, but when he was on top, he blitzed the turf with impressive times.
“He looks like an extremely fast horse, that’s why we had to stretch to buy him at the sales. He was a highlight lot and is the type of horse who people will fall in love with when they come to inspect him. He’s the type of horse people want to breed, and he’s got a high-class international pedigree to go with it," said Magnier on Wednesday.
“As his price tag suggests, he was an absolute standout at the sales. The whole team were adamant we should have him,” said trainer Chris Waller.
“He had so much presence, just a big, strong handsome colt with a beautiful action and what a racehorse he turned into. They couldn’t touch him in the Todman … and he was electric again in the Coolmore. Switzerland is a very special horse. I can’t wait to see what he does in the next chapter!”
“He (Switzerland) had so much presence, just a big, strong handsome colt with a beautiful action and what a racehorse he turned into!” - Chris Waller
Australian stallions over American mares
It’s becoming a well-trodden path of success down under, with American mares crossing well with Australian stallions, and Switzerland is another who brings this cross.
Arrowfield purchased G3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes and Listed China Doll Stakes winner Ms Bad Behavior (Can) (Blame {USA}) via Freyer Bloodstock for US$600,000 (AU$946,000) at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Mixed Sale, and sent her to their Champion Sire Snitzel, with the mating resulting in Switzerland.
Ms Bad Behavior’s dam Stormy Atlantic (USA) mare Cumulonimble (USA), won the Listed Arlington Park Lincoln Heritage Handicap twice, and produced three American stakes winners, Ms Bad Behavior, Listed Woodbine Muskoka Stakes winner (at two) Blessed Truly (USA) (Souper Speedy {USA}) and Listed Woodbine Queen's Plate Stakes winner One Bad Boy (USA) (Twirling Candy {USA}).
The recently sold $2.7 million brother to Switzerland from the 2025 Inglis Easter Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
“Like Shinzo, Switzerland is out of a mare by an outcross American stallion. Blame is a high-class sire in his own right and a particularly potent broodmare sire. On pedigree, we think he’ll match up with a wide variety of the Australian broodmare population,” said Magnier.
Coolmore went back to the same well in 2025, buying Switzerland’s full brother for $2.7 million from Arrowfield’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft.
Snitzel, an extraordinary sire
Snitzel, Switzerland’s sire, has been a stalwart of the juvenile and sprinting scene in Australia for over a decade with 156 stakes winners and four Champion Sire titles. He continues to dominate in the sales ring, and with Coolmore also standing Snitzel’s G1 Golden Slipper winner Shinzo (who Coolmore bred), there is a level of investment into this sire line at this farm which bodes well for the future, and gives confidence to broodmare owners looking to invest carefully in the current economic climate.
“Undoubtedly, Snitzel is one of the best stallions we have in Australia and to stand, arguably, his two best credentialled sons beside each other with Golden Slipper winner Shinzo and now Switzerland is a great coup for us. Snitzel has done an incredible job with those fast American mares, and we were very happy to buy Switzerland’s full brother this year," said Magnier.
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Snitzel has had another wonderful season, adding his third G1 Golden Slipper winner with Marhoona (joining Shinzo and Estijaab), and he’s now up to his 23rd Group 1 winner overall.
Snitzel’s sons are led by G1 Cox Plate winner Shamus Award, who has 27 stakes winners including six Group 1 winners, and Group 1 winner Russian Revolution, whose 12 stakes winners include Group 1 winner Communist. With young stallions such as Best Of Bordeaux, In The Congo, Lofty Strike, Shinzo, and Wild Ruler all yet to have runners, the future is very bright for Snitzel in this realm.
A record-breaking speedster
When Switzerland won the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, not only did he copy Zoustar in having come into the race off a victory in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes, but he also was the fastest winner of the 1200 metre sprint recording a time of 1:08.03, and breaking a record that had been held for 20 years.
The G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes has put together an impressive list of graduates with the likes of successful stallions Zoustar, Exceedance, Flying Artie, Brazen Beau, and Northern Meteor, as well as further back in time to Encosta De Lago, Zeditave, and Kaapstad (NZ).
Coolmore stallion Home Affairs won this race in 2021, and his first crop of yearlings scorched the sales ring this year with three million-dollar-plus yearlings and an average exceeding $300,000.
Switzerland returned to the track in the autumn, running fourth when resuming in the G1 Lightning Stakes over 1000 metres, before being retired after two more efforts. Winner of five of his ten starts – three at two – he earned $1.9 million on track.
As a Group 1-winning 3-year-old sprinter and a Group 2-winning juvenile, Switzerland had precocity and speed, two qualities that Australian trainers and owners adore, and as an expensive yearling himself, he is also likely to reproduce that sales success for breeders.
Switzerland winning the G2 Roman Consul Stakes | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“The Coolmore and the Golden Slipper are the two sire-making races in the country, there’s no doubt about that, and Switzerland has incredible good looks and a great pedigree, so he really has it all when it comes to producing a commercial stallion prospect for breeders in Australia,” said Magnier.
“Priced this way, we think he’s great value. The reaction to him today has been unbelievable. He’s the type of horse we want to support with our own mares, and our clients through the country can support him with confidence with quality mares because they will get a return in the sales ring.”
Standing for an introductory fee of $60,500 (including GST) in 2025, Switzerland shapes as a potential headline act for Coolmore, following in the footsteps of highly anticipated young stallions such as Shinzo and Home Affairs. While neither has runners to date, their high-profile retirements highlight Coolmore’s proven record in securing top-quality stallion prospects. Coolmore are yet to announce their full roster for 2025.
