Trainer Gary Colvin has changed tack with talented sprinting mare Snipperette for her Albury assignment on Thursday.
A regimen of swimming, trotting and cantering has replaced fast work on the track in a bid to freshen up the mare and get her back into winning form.
Snipperette tackles the Laser Electrical Benchmark 60 Hcp (1175m) with Andrew Bloomfield in the saddle.
This preparation the four-year-old mare has suffered jarring up problems, hence Colvin’s change of training tactics.
“She’s had a few problems, leg issues,” the Wagga-based trainer said.
“She’s always had a joint problem and had been jarring up.
“Since her last run I haven’t galloped her at all. I’ve just kept her fresh with a lot of swimming and trot and cantering.
“I’m hopeful she’s on top of the problem now. She looks spot-on.”
Snipperette, the winner of four from 14 starts, is raced by a diverse group including former Wagga now Bondi resident Mark Parmenter.
“It’s the boys’ first horse. They’ve been lucky and struck a pretty good one,” Colvin said.
“They’ve all got the racing bug and are coming to the Gold Coast to buy another horse.
“Snipperette has always shown ability but because of the foot problem, I haven’t been able to get her fit enough for 1400 metres.
“She got a long way back last start but got to the line good.
“On her day she lets down well.”
Second-up over 1400m on her home track, Snipperette finished third to Hurriconi on December 23.
The mare has a good record at Albury, two wins and a third from four starts, and Colvin believes drawing the inside barrier on Thursday is a big advantage.
“I don’t want her to get back too far early, hopefully drive her out and take advantage of the good barrier,” he said.
“I’m hoping she can get a nice trail and finish the race off.”
Colvin said the John and Chris Ledger-trained Very Humorous was the horse to beat.
The Wangaratta-based Ledgers and jockey Mark Pegus have several strong chances on the seven-race program.
AAP TURF
