G1 Mare Snazzytavi Battling Laminitis

Media Release - Tuesday March 18

Cambridge Stud are hoping Snazzytavi will continue to draw on all her fighting qualities to win out in her battle against illness.

The multiple Group One-winning daughter of Tavistock is currently doing as well as can be expected, receiving the best of local and international care.

Multiple Group One-winner Snazzytavi has had an acute episode of laminitis and is unlikely to race again.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

“She remains at Matamata Vets where she has been for the last three or four weeks and has had an acute episode of laminitis, which is a chronic condition,” Cambridge’s Chief Executive Officer Henry Plumptre said.

“They got on to it pretty quickly and engaged the services of a Kentucky vet, Scott Morrison, who is overseeing her rehab and she’s got a very good team at MVS looking after her.

“She’s got to the point now where she is out in a small paddock for six hours a day and able to walk around and got specialists shoes on and casts on her front legs for support.

“She is bright and eating and drinking well and it’s now a case of waiting for the inflammation to disappear.”

The stud is banking on Snazzytavi’s makeup to be a vital contributor to her recovery.

“What makes her a little bit different to a lot of horses that contract laminitis is that she has an amazing constitution, she’s very tough and her mental state is good,” Plumptre said.

“She is doing as well as she can possibly be, she’s very unlikely to return to a racecourse but she is obviously a very valuable breeding prospect.”

Snazzytavi won nine of her 15 starts for trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, including Group One victories in the Zabeel Classic (2000m) and Livamol Classic (2040m).

On a brighter note, the stud’s crack Australian-based mare Joliestar is progressing well toward another elite level assignment while plans are afoot for recent acquisition Pivotal Ten to also cross the Tasman later this year.

Trained by Chris Waller, Joliestar won last season’s Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield and last time out blitzed her rivals in the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

Advertisement

“She’s back in Sydney for the TJ Smith (Gr.1, 1200m) and then she’ll probably have a break,” Plumptre said.

“There’s been a lot of talk about Ascot, but that’s probably a bridge too far at the moment and our feeling is that if she’s to have a crack at another big target, then it’s likely to be The Everest in the spring.”

Cambridge Stud purchased a 50 per cent holding in Pivotal Ten from owner Colin Wightman following a hat-trick of southern Listed wins for trainer-rider Samantha Wynne and was unplaced in The NZB Kiwi (1500m) in her first run beyond 1400m.

“The target wasn’t just the Kiwi, from a Cambridge Stud perspective it was more about the long-term future,” Plumptre said.

“She’s a very good-looking filly and I think next year as a four-year-old she’ll probably be a six-furlong mare, that would be her specialist trip for me.

“The likelihood is that she will go to Australia and be trained there for the spring.

“She flew back to Christchurch after The Kiwi for a spell and it’s sensible that she be in Melbourne to kick off her next preparation.”

Meanwhile, Jaarffi has also gone for a deserved break following her close second in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m).

“She’s probably a little unlucky not to be a Group One winner and has always been a difficult mare to train, from the point of view of keeping condition on her,” Plumptre said.

“As a five-year-old, this is the first time she’s stood up to the training regime. Lance (Noble) has done a fantastic job with her, and she’ll race on and there will be some lovely races for her around that mile trip.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Via Sistina Honoured at NSW Horse of the Year
One of the greatest seasons of all time has secured Via Sistina the TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year award. The Chris Waller-trained mare was recognised at Racing’s Night of Champions for her outstanding performance in 2024/2025 which included equalling Winx’s record of seven Group 1s in a single season.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
Snazzytavi wins G1 Zabeel Classic for Cambridge Stud
This year’s phenomenal rise of Snazzytavi was fittingly capped off in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day, but another star mare didn’t let her away with an easy victory in the Ellerslie feature.
Snazzytavi Sidelined with Virus
Illness is likely to sideline Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall’s top quality mare Snazzytavi until later in the year.
Snazzytavi Seeking More G1 Success for Cambridge Stud
Top mare Snazzytavi is ready to kick off her summer campaign, which will revolve around further Group One weight-for-age opportunities.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.