“She is such a lovely mare and very quick so while she hasn’t raced at Ellerslie before I think she will handle it fine.”
What might make those taking the odds-on for Snazzytavi a touch nervous is her racing style of settling well back and then booming home, which could leave her needing to unleash some sizzling sectionals if the speed isn’t on in the middle stages, a common occurrence in Ellerslie’s 2000m weight-for-age races.
“I know it could be tempting to try and use her barrier to stay a little handier, especially from gate 3, but I won’t be forcing her,” says Kennedy.
“I might naturally happen but she is best when you leave her alone out of the gates. She used to get quite fired up but we have worked hard on that so I won’t be looking to undo that because long-term, being able to settle is the best thing for her.
“And if they go slow up front I think it will actually play into our hands as I think she has the best sprint in the race.”
Like any horse who settles back, Snazzytavi will still need luck, but she has emerged as one of New Zealand’s elite gallopers so with an even tempo and an uninterrupted run it will take something special, almost certainly from one of those racing handier, to beat her.
Kennedy has a stellar book for the final major meeting of his stunning year and says Checkmate (Auckland Guineas) has to be hard to beat even if the 1400m today might suit key rival Damask Rose better.
“He is a good horse but is dropping down in trip so he is going to need to be really good to beat the filly.
“I have got a really good book, which is in line with what I have been trying to do, concentrate more on the major meetings.”
While Dazzled (R4, No 7) can be an electrifying mare but isn’t well weighted, Kennedy takes confidence from her last start win here.
“Knowing she can win at Ellerslie really helps because she failed the first time she went there and the step up to 1400m helps,” he says.
Earlier rides Remala (R2, No 8) and Marengo (R3, No 4) have the talent but find themselves in tough races, as does Tiffanee in Race 5.
“About Time [Race 6] was really good winning last start and should be strong enough for the 2400m now so she will be hard to beat.
“I really like Romilly, the filly I am riding in the Eight Carat. She was one of the few making any ground in her last start but she might even be better over more ground.”
Kennedy rides Matane, trained by his wife Barbara, in the last race but says stablemate Subtle Power is at least as good a chance in another strong, even field.
“I actually thought I was committed to a Cambridge Stud horse in that race but it is starting in another race and we had already engaged Sam Spratt to ride Subtle Power so I am now on Matane, who is a chance but it is another tough race.”
Boxing Day Races
What: One of New Zealand’s great horse racing meetings.
Where: Ellerslie, Auckland.
When: Today, first race 12.20pm.
Highlight: $500,000 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic.
The punt: All markets open with TAB.
Can I go?: Yes, tickets remain for most areas and there is walk-up general admission.
Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.
