Snapshot looking picture perfect for famous ownership team
SNAPSHOT started its career with a hiss and a roar, winning five of its first six starts, but following a poor performance in the Group 1 Easter Stakes last year, it hasn’t been able to recapture that earlier form.
Now a seven-year-old with only six wins to its name, trainer Danica Guy believes the son of Stravinsky is travelling better than ever and he’s capable of turning his form around after an unlucky run at Tauranga last start.
“He didn’t really have a run to be fair, that’s why we’re backing him up,” Guy said. “I’m not sure how hard he tried, but the run didn’t knock him around at all.
“I think he’s taken a little while to come up this time, but he’s settling better than ever in his races.”
Guy is hoping to rise up in distance will suit Snapshot, which is owned by the likes of former All Black greats Richie McCaw and Ali Williams.
“Hopefully we can get him up to a mile and that might make it easier for him,” she said. “I know that he doesn’t like really hard tracks, but the rise to the mile will help.”
It’s unsure whether Snapshot will ever reach group one level again, but a positive run in the H.R. Fisken & Sons Handicap at Pukekohe would go a long way.
“There are lots of nice races for him if he’s good enough, but he needs to prove that,” Guy said. “He needs to put his hand up before we look for bigger targets.”
Guy also lines up impressive four-year-old Lovers Lane in the Group 2 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes on Saturday. The lightly-tried mare was a stylish maiden winner last start and it looks ready for the big stage.
“The owners have been very patient and hopefully they’ll be rewarded because she’s going very well,” said Guy, who has the Ellerslie summer carnival in mind for the daughter of Rip van Winkle.
“She’s been nominated for the Dustin Final (at Ellerslie) on Boxing day. If she can win another race in between then that will be a nice target for her if she’s good enough.”