Racing: Snazzy finish for Lisa

Lisa Cropp may not have produced the prettiest ride of her career, but it clinched a Group One victory at Te Rapa yesterday.

Last season's champion jockey was reunited with Snazzy in the $100,000 Whakanui Stud International Stakes and did not panic when trapped out three wide at the start of the 2000m event.

She punched Snazzy forward to lead with about 1800m remaining, and then took the unusual step of rolling off the rail to sit outside Pretorius.

Cropp sat patiently on Snazzy and did not panic when headed by Tusker with 100m remaining, kicking back in determined style to win by a long neck.

A further length away third was Kerry O'Reilly.

Snazzy's last start, when unplaced in the Thorndon Mile at Trentham, was best forgotten said trainer Jeff Lynds.

"We had Scott Seamer up and he hadn't ridden the horse before and raced wide. He was pushed all over the place.

"Despite all the bad luck, he ended up only five lengths behind the winner and I knew then that we would press on to Te Rapa for this race.

"We'll keep him racing here in New Zealand for the rest of the season with a couple of other Group One races we can look at."

The 4-year-old Danske entire has had just 11 starts - for six wins and one minor placing.

From an Auckland Cup perspective, there was much to admire about the performance of Kerry O'Reilly.

He was forced to race three wide virtually throughout, and fought on like a tiger in the home straight to finish within 1 1/4 lengths of the winner.

Jockey Michael Coleman said Kerry O'Reilly was a stayer and went better when he could work into a race. "It was a massive run and from an Auckland Cup angle it was a big effort. He's on track."


- HERALD ON SUNDAY