Firmer the better for Savannah Amour

Darryl Sherer - Saturday September 2

A firmer surface and a gear change made the winning difference to Savanna Amour in Saturday's Group III Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Advertisement
Savannah Amour (yellow) winning the Cockram Stakes. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Savanna Amour could finish only seventh last time out in the Group III Bletchingly Stakes at Sandown however, back on a good surface and against her own sex the four-year-old was back to her best.

In traffic around the home turn, Ben Melham switched towards the inside in the straight and Savanna Amour ($9 - $15) quickened up to come through and defeat Flying Jess ($81), which came from last, by a short head with Written Era ($21) a nose away third.

Melham said the blinkers almost worked too well.

"She travelled really strong in the blinkers today and probably carried me a bit closer than I expected," Melham said.

"She towed me into traffic and I was lucky it opened up in the straight. I knew I had plenty of horse but I had nowhere to go.

"The firmer track helped her as well, she just didn't handle it at Sandown."

Savanna Amour won the Group III Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield in the autumn and Meagher said the daughter of Love Conquers All was a different horse on top of the ground.

"I was disappointed after the first-up run but Ben (Melham) told me not to worry," Meagher said.

"The firmer track here today was in her favour and she travelled strong in the blinkers so it all worked out in the end."

Advertisment
More Reading...
JRHA Foal Sale – Equinox Fever and Aussie Star Mares
The JRHA Select Sale continued on Tuesday with the prized foal session and while the sale-topper always looked an obvious one with the Equinox colt from Champion US Mare Midnight Bisou widely tipped to star, our Aussie bred mares still made their presence felt.
Century of Winners for McDougal
Corrina McDougal had to wait on a protest before earning her first training success, but on Sunday at Woodville, her 100th was never in doubt.
2YO Spandeedo Heads Sharrock Treble
It was a red-letter day at Hawera on Tuesday for Gavin Sharrock, with the Stratford trainer posting his first treble.
Winning Return for Zoustar Colt
Group placed during the autumn when he went around in several of the Golden Slipper lead up races, promising Zoustar colt Hillier made a winning return at Newcastle on Tuesday when resuming from a spell.
High Hopes for Up and Comers
Andrew Forsman is hoping the younger members of his stable can make their mark in the new season’s age group events.
Veteran Tavis Court Keeps Winning Streak Alive
Evergreen galloper Tavis Court had won a race in every season of his career since he debuted as a three-year-old, and at the tail end of his nine-year-old year, he kept that remarkable streak alive at Hawera on Tuesday.
One to Watch – Newcastle
The O’Shea /Charlton stable have had a lot of success this season and pivotal to that have been the Kiwi breds in the stable highlighted by G1 winning 3YO’s Linebacker and Maison Louis and the dynamic duo unleashed a promising 2YO debut winner on Tuesday with the NZ suffix.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 15
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats won by juveniles at the Rosehill trials on Tuesday morning and they included a couple of promising horses that have already proven their stripes in stakes company, plus an unraced youngster by in form sire Flying Artie.
Athletic Queenslander launches Melbourne campaign
Queenslander Savanna Amour was well backed before the postponed Bletchingly Stakes but trainer John Meagher will be delighted if his mare can simply run into the placings in the Group III race on Sunday.