Snazzytavi has seemingly flown through the grades this season, and the talented mare will prepare for another black-type target in Wednesday’s South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata.
The daughter of Tavistock has been near faultless through her preparation, building from a Rating 65 victory over 1400m in early December to a comprehensive win in the Stella Artois Championship Final (1500m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day, followed by a narrow third placing in the Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) last month.
Stepping out over ground for the first time at Matamata last start, regular rider Warren Kennedy situated the mare back in the field throughout and her strong turn-of-foot was revealed in claiming the 2000m contest.
Snazzytavi will shoulder 57.5kg in the Matamata mid-week feature, with co-trainer Graham Richardson indicating Wednesday’s race will act as a hopeful prelude to the Group 3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m) at Trentham on April 6.
“The plan was to get back at her last start, as she was having her first time over ground and drawing wide, and they can tend to go hard early at Matamata,” he said.
“We decided to sit off the pace, and it was a very good effort to win.
“This race is a lead-up to the Manawatu Breeders’ all going well on Wednesday, and if the track is good down there. If it’s too wet, we’ll more than likely send her out and come back for the spring.”
Richardson, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall, will prepare a further four runners at their local meeting, including juvenile filly Lotus, who steps out of stakes company after contesting the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
“She missed the kick last start in a very strong field and had to be used up a bit to put her back in the race. She went okay, it was a pretty good run, and I was happy with her,” he said.
“She’d be very competitive on Wednesday, she’s learning all the time and she’ll want further than this eventually. She’ll be a better and stronger three-year-old.”
Lovearoadie was another representative who did little wrong in her last preparation, and Richardson is upbeat about the chances of the lightly-raced Savile Row mare fresh-up.
“She’s flying, she’s doing really well. I’ve got Ace (Lawson-Carroll, apprentice jockey) claiming a couple of kilos on her and she’s got a nice draw (3), she is fresh-up but I’m happy with her work and she should be pretty competitive,” he said.
Social Racing have enjoyed a fruitful season with the stable, highlighted by Group One hero Bonny Lass, and the syndicator will have three-year-old filly Mi Bella resuming.
Richardson will also engage Royal Ace in the 1050m contest, the pair guided by Warren Kennedy and Bridget Grylls respectively.
“Both of these horses show a fair bit of potential,” he said.
“It’s first-up over 1000m, it’ll be interesting with a lot of speed in the race so they’ll both improve from the run regardless of how they go.”