24th G1 Winner for Savabeel

Media Release - Saturday October 16

A picture-perfect ride by Danielle Johnson ensured quality staying mare Savy Yong Blonk was given every opportunity to succeed at Hastings on Saturday and she duly delivered with an outstanding victory in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).

Savy Yong Blonk stretches bravely as she takes out the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

The Jamie Richards-trained six-year-old was touted as one of the major prospects in an even field, starting the $8.30 fourth favourite after opening her spring campaign with an eye-catching late run for sixth behind Callsign Mav in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) last month.

After a disappointing second-up effort where she bombed the start over 1600m at Te Rapa, Johnson made sure that didn’t happen again as she bounced the daughter of Savabeel away nicely from barrier six, settling one out in midfield in the keenly contested early running.

Johnson had Savy Yong Blonk travelling nicely approaching the home bend and made her move to loom into contention on the back of stablemate Prise De Fer with 400m to run.

Angled the widest in the home straight, Savy Yong Blonk produced a sustained burst of speed to drive hard after Harlech, who swept to the lead inside the final furlong, heading her fellow Matamata raider in the final few bounds to capture a valuable elite-level win.

Harlech fought bravely for second with Prise De Fer battling on strongly for third ahead of Cheval Prometteur.

“It has always been the plan to head to this race, but it does dent the confidence a wee bit off the back of a below par performance that she put in at Te Rapa,” Richards said.

“You just have to take her on trust to get away from the gates cleanly, which she did today and Danielle gave her a lovely ride.

“She is off to visit Super Seth (Waikato Stud stallion) and we will then race her on and hope to pick-up another one (Group One won) if we can.

“I am absolutely thrilled she has a Group One now as she thoroughly deserves it.”

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Johnson was both delighted and a little relieved to secure the victory after being narrowly beaten on two occasions earlier in the day.

“It has been a long day and I’m very glad I held on to this one,” she said.

“I kept her trotting and tried to keep her awake before the start, as she missed the kick the other day.

“I ended up getting on the back of Troy Harris (Prise De Fer), who I thought was the horse to beat and she has just been too good.

“He dragged me into the race and she is just so gutsy and really deserved the win today.”

Bred and raced by Jim and Bill Gartshore, under their Gartshore Bloodstock banner, Savy Yong Blonk has now won eight of her 27 starts and over $486,000 in prizemoney.

She becomes the 24th individual Group One winner for Waikato Stud super stallion Savabeel, the winner of the Grosvenor Award (Champion NZ Sire) for six consecutive seasons.

A sibling to Australian Group Two winner Adelaide Ace, Savy Yong Blonk is out of the Pins mare Ampin, and is also a three-quarter sister to Group One performer Strike The Stars. – NZ Racing Desk

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Race Result - Livamol Classic Gr1 2040m

Hastings Track: Good(3) Time: 2:04.50
1
Savy Yong Blonk
- 6m Savabeel (AUS) x Ampin (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: D S Johnson 57
2
0.2
Harlech
- 5h Darci Brahma (NZ) x Obsession (NZ) (Bachelor Duke (USA))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: M J Mc Nab 59
3
0.6
Prise De Fer
- 6g Savabeel (AUS) x Foiled (AUS) (Snippets (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: T N Harris 59
4
0.7
Cheval Prometteur
- 7g Declaration Of War (USA) x Shibina (IRE) (Kalanisi (IRE))
Tnr: Ms C Cameron Rdr: J K Riddell 59
5
1.5
House Of Cartier
- 6m Alamosa (NZ) x Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: Peter Didham Rdr: S J Macnab 57
6
3.3
Llanacord
- 4m Contributer (IRE) x L'accord (NZ) (Golan (IRE))
Tnr: S Nickalls Rdr: L T Hemi 55.5
7
4.8
Beauden
- 7g Bullbars (AUS) x Belle Femme (AUS) (Zeditave (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: R T Elliot 59
8
6.6
Big Mike
- 9g Don Eduardo (NZ) x Landvetter (NZ) (Felix The Cat (USA))
Tnr: Craig & Shaun Phelan Rdr: E M Leighton 59
9
7.0
Robusto
- 7m Zed (NZ) x Adriatico (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: L J Allpress 57
10
7.1
The Buzz
- 6g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Della Lobra (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: M & K Murdoch Rdr: J J Fawcett 59
11
7.3
Communique
- 5m Redwood (GB) x Al Bayan (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: S Autridge & K Shailer Rdr: C J Grylls 57
12
9.3
Ritani
- 7m Makfi (GB) x Elegant Emerald (AUS) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: K & I Taplin Rdr: S R Weatherley 57
13
10.1
Masetto
- 6g Cape Blanco (IRE) x Passchendaele (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: A J Smith Rdr: T Yanagida 59
14
10.4
Tappy's One
- 5g Proisir (AUS) x Tappy Lee (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: K & I Taplin Rdr: C W Johnson 59
15
12.7
Peecee Pussycat
- 4g Pure Champion (IRE) x Compact Pussycat (NZ) (Al Akbar (AUS))
Tnr: J W Bell Rdr: J Kamaruddin 57.5
16
19.0
Imelda Mary
- 6m Ferlax (NZ) x Eleesha (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: W P Hillis Rdr: S M Mc Kay 57
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