Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
Expect to see promising stayer Snazzytavi feature prominently in next season’s Cups, that’s the call from co-trainer Graham Richardson following her win in the Gavelhouse.com 2000 at Matamata on Saturday.
The daughter of Tavistock was having her first start over ground on her home track over the weekend and Richardson, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall, was impressed with her performance.
In the hands of leading hoop Warren Kennedy, Snazzytavi was taken back to settle at the rear of the field where she enjoyed doing no work throughout. Rounding for home, she tracked Jolted into the race and was presented four wide at the top of the straight and showed her staying qualities in the concluding stages when securing a three-quarter length victory.
“She won well,” Richardson said. “It was her first ever run over distance, so to win and do it going away in that last 30m was quite impressive. It was a pretty handy field.”
Raced by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Snazzytavi is starting to accrue an impressive record, having now won four and placed in three of her eight starts, including securing valuable black-type when third in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day.
“It’s important to get black-type with her because she is owned by Cambridge Stud and they want broodmares of high quality, which she should be,” Richardson said.
Snazzytavi may now head to Trentham in April for the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m), although the spelling paddock is also a compelling option ahead of some big targets next season.
“There is something for her (Manawatu Breeders’) at Trentham on April 6 but what she does between now and then is the hard part. We may tip her out, but I haven’t confirmed anything yet,” Richardson said.
“Next year she will hopefully get a bit stronger and get even better. That (staying) is what she is bred to do and next year she could end up going to some of those nice Cup races.”
While Snazzytavi put in a good showing in the last at Matamata on Saturday, stablemate To Catch A Thief continued a frustrating run for his connections when third in the Ancroft Developments 1400.
The three-year-old son of U S Navy Flag has now run third in 10 of his 14 starts, including the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), and Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
“He only got beaten a head (on Saturday) and all he needed to do was go straight,” Richardson said. “That was disappointing, he is going to go out for a while now.”
Meanwhile, Richardson is looking forward to heading to Ellerslie on Saturday where Bonny Lass will be trying to replicate her last start Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) heroics in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m).
Her handlers been pleased with the way she has been since her maiden elite-level victory and are hopeful of another bold showing this weekend.
“It was great to get that Group One win with her, she certainly deserved it. She has done really well since, she is tough as boots,” Richardson said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
