Richardson and Norvall look to keep winning run going

[Wandering Eyes]

Snazzytavi will be one of two contenders for trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall in Saturday’s Group 3 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Matamata trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall were rapt with their treble at Arawa Park on Wednesday, and they are hoping they can continue that winning form into the rest of the week.

Therapeutic kicked off the treble before Confiance and Darci’s Angel carried Social Racing’s colours to victory respectively.

“I am absolutely over the moon,” Richardson said. “It’s good for Social Racing, Brent and Wendy Cooper have been very good supporters, and the owners of Therapeutic as well, it was a great day.”

It was a nice appetiser ahead of a couple of exciting days for the stable, culminating with two quality stakes chances at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Stakes performer Snazzytavi and Group Two performer Channel Surfer will tackle the Group 3 Easter Handicap (1600m) and Richardson believes both horses are in with a show.

“Snazzytavi and Channel Surfer are both lovely horses and both are good chances. We just like to have horses in a big race,” he said.

“It’s a little bit disappointing that it is a Group Three now. It is a prestigious race and one that everyone loves to win. It used to be a Group One, but I am sure they had good reason to downgrade it, but it is disappointing.”

Snazzytavi heads into the race fresh after recovering from a stone bruise since her placing in the South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata last month.

“Bringing her back to the mile, there is a question mark, but she hasn’t raced for a while because she had a bit of a stone bruise” Richardson said. “She is better off a bit fresh anyway. She will be an interesting runner from an awkward draw (10).”

Snazzytavi is coming towards the end of her campaign and Richardson said she will be an ideal Cups mare next season.

“Without confirming it with Cambridge stud, she is getting to a stage where she will probably need a rest soon and she will look at the Cups races next season,” he said.

Channel Surfer also takes a placing into Saturday, having run third over a mile at Trentham a fortnight ago.

“It was a very good run last time,” Richardson said. “He missed the kick and got held up halfway up the straight at Wellington. He has definitely improved on that run. He had 58.5kg last time and now he has got 53kg on his back. He will be an interesting runner.”

Richarson will also head to Ellerslie with Lovearoadie.

“She got trapped three-wide last time. It certainly wasn’t the jockey’s fault, it’s just the way it turned out,” Richardson said. “We have got a lot of enthusiastic owners from all over the country in her, so hopefully she goes well.”

A day prior, the stable will have two contenders at their home meeting, including Sorghaghtani and Chante Moi.

“Sorghaghtani is a very, very good horse that has had more issues than I have,” Richardson said.

“She is getting better and stronger, and her work on Tuesday was good. I would ideally have liked to have given her a trial. She is going into tomorrow not 100 percent fit, but it doesn’t mean she can’t win.

“Chante Moi has improved lengths since she had a spell and come back in.”

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