Trainer Gerald Ryan has revealed that a series of tests conducted University Of Queensland Veterinary Medical Centre at Gatton will decide the racing future of talented mare Snitzerland.
Snitzerland will undergo a series of tests that will determine whether she races on next year. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Snitzerland was sent to the spelling paddock after she was found to be suffering from soreness in her leg and shoulder in the lead-up to the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm on May 10, which Ryan suspected may have been a hairline fracture.
Initial scans ruled out a hairline fracture in the back of Snitzerland, but Ryan told Racing Ahead that connections had opted to send the 2014 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes winner for further scans that will determine if she is retired to serve as a broodmare or return to the races for an autumn campaign next year.
“She has gone up there to have another few tests at Gatton University,” Ryan said.
“We are waiting for the report back today and we will just see what they come back with – whether it is long term or whether it is retirement.
“The vet said to me this morning that she is clean in her action and trotting up sound and that now.
“We could never get to the bottom of that soreness, so we thought we do something about it.
“If it is something long term she will be retired, but if it is wasn’t we would give her three or four months and aim her towards the autumn next year.
“I will know more in the next 48 hours.”
Snitzerland has performed consistently at the highest level of racing since she made her racing debut as a two-year-old, finishing second behind Pierro in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), but was unable to breakthrough for a maiden win at Group 1 level until she took out the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 15.
The four-year-old finished second behind Villa Verde in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on March 15 and looked set for a big 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign, but her preparation was interrupted by wet weather.
Ryan opted to scratch Snitzerland from the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29 and she floundered on a heavy surface in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 12 before returning to a semblance of her best form in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on April 26.
Snitzerland has recorded eight wins from her 20 career starts and has accumulated almost $2 million in prizemoney.
