Savabeel Mare Wins G2 Tauranga Stakes

Media Release - Saturday November 14

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood stable capped off a superb week when classy mare Concert Hall captured the G2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) at Tauranga on Saturday.

Concert Hall and Vinnie Colgan are well clear near the finish of the Gr2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes . Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

The Cambridge stable picked up the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on Wednesday with Hypnos and made it a Group Two double in the space of 72 hours courtesy of the Joan Egan-bred and raced Concert Hall.

James has made no secret of the high regard he holds for the Savabeel six-year-old who has come of age in the past eighteen months, registering four wins from 13 starts with all of her victories coming in stakes company.

While James believes the mare’s future lies over ground, she is still sharp enough to compete over a mile and showed that prowess with a powerful home straight sprint to take out the Tauranga feature in the hands of Vinnie Colgan.

“I thought it was a terrific effort,” James said.

“She really sprinted hard when Vinnie asked her and it was quite an easy watch in the end.

“She’s very versatile and handles most ground up to a heavy surface so there were no worries with what they were running on today and she can really sprint on top of the ground.

“I’m delighted to see her performing like this for her owner as she has allowed us to take our time with her and that maturity, it is now paying dividends.

Advertisement

“You could bounce bullets off her now she is so tough and resilient.”

Nominated for the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thomson Auckland Cup (3200m) in March, James is toying with the idea of tackling a Group One feature mile with the mare for her next assignment.

“You never make any decisions about future races on raceday so we will take her home and see how she comes through this one before we look at future plans for her,” he said.

“I am toying with the idea of tackling the Captain Cook Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) at Trentham though as she is going so well over the mile at present.

“That would be the strongest option on our radar at present.”

The victory completed the middle leg of a winning treble on the day for Colgan although it could have been four for the Matamata horseman as he was aboard three-year-old filly Devotioninmotion who was relegated back to second after a home straight bumping duel with Sophistical in race two on the card.

Mares dominated the finish of the Tauranga Stakes, with Darci Brahma six-year-old Sinarahma and progressive four-year-old Siracusa filling the minor placings. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Gartshore Tauranga Stakes Gr2 1600m

Tauranga Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:36.69
1
Concert Hall
- 6m Savabeel (AUS) x Classic Legacy (NZ) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: V A Colgan 57
2
2.5
Sinarahma
- 6m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: S M Mc Kay 57
3
2.6
Siracusa
- 4m Sebring (AUS) x Corinthia (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: S Ramsay & J Ritchie Rdr: A C Goindasamy 57
Sebring
4
3.0
Demonetization
- 6g All Too Hard (AUS) x Midnight Special (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: N W Tiley Rdr: A J Calder 59
5
3.2
Hay Tiger
- 8g Tiger Prawn (SAF) x Verry Fast (NZ) (Fast 'n' Famous (AUS))
Tnr: G J Old Rdr: J J Fawcett 59
6
3.4
Watch This Space
- 9g Elusive City (USA) x Multi Tasker (NZ) (Kaapstad (NZ))
Tnr: W P Hillis Rdr: B R Jones 59
7
8.2
Lavaglo
- 4m Rock 'n' Pop (AUS) x Little Glo (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit (USA))
Tnr: D J Miller Rdr: W F Pinn 57
8
13.2
El Nymph
- 4m El Roca (AUS) x White Nymph (NZ) (Sir Percy (GB))
Tnr: N & T Elliott Rdr: T D Thornton 57
9
15.5
True Enough
- 7g Nom Du Jeu (NZ) x Valda's Dream (NZ) (Sakura Seeking (USA))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: J K Riddell 59
More Reading...
Ozzmosis First Born is Feeling Frisky!
Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis was in demand at Newgate last spring covering 192 mares and his first born foal that arrived on July 31 at Alma Vale Thoroughbreds is the source of great pride for owners Ian and Cathy Mathieson.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 9
Here is the full list of 90 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Goal for Slick Kiwi Sprinter
Per Incanto (USA) is renowned for his slick older sprinters and progressive 5YO Oak Hill (NZ) promises to be his next stakes-winner here in Australia.
Queman’s Behemoth Performance At Morphettville
Not seen on race day for some 69 weeks, Shane and Cassie Oxlade’s Queman showed utter grit and determination to lead throughout at Morphettville, winning the Group 3 SAJC Behemoth Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Stakes Next for Extremely Smart Filly
By outstanding sire Extreme Choice from Shane Nichols former stable favourite and Group I VRC Myer Classic winner I Am a Star, exciting filly Esha has the ability to match her pedigree.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Bred 'Jenni' Scores for Maher
Lightly-raced six-year-old mare Jennivamoose scored a comfortable victory in the Donnellans The Tyremen Handicap (2500m) at The Valley on Saturday under a patient Harry Coffey ride.
G1 Melbourne Goal for Alabama Lass
Trainer Ken Kelso was wearing a wide smile as he left Te Rapa racecourse on Saturday afternoon after witnessing his two stable stars provide him with suitable evidence they are both on target to kick off their Spring campaigns in fine fashion.
Zoustar Entering the Zenith
The dictionary tells us Zenith is an astronomical term —describing the highest point in an arc travelled by a star, planet or another celestial body- and in the case of this story it’s planet Zoustar!
First Stakes-Winner for St Mark’s Basilica
Back at Coolmore Australia this spring for his fourth season, 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark‘s Basilica (Fr) is on the board with his first stakes-winner after Thesecretadversary rolled the favourite to win the Listed Churchill Stakes (7 ½ f) at Tipperary overnight.