Fresh off a narrow win in a Warrnambool maiden, the three-year-old Savabeel colt Blue Army dealt punters a blow when he finished best in Saturday’s $300,000 Group II Sandown Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
With Damian Lane in the saddle for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Blue Army defeated the Pierro gelding Blazero by a half-length with the heavily supported Choisir filly Festival Dancer a length further back in third.
It was just the third start for Blue Army, who was second on debut at Cranbourne on June 23.
“The first winner from our new Cranbourne (stables), and he’s a beautiful colt,” Kent said.
“It was a big step, and we knew we had a good horse to do it.
“It is a massive result because the owner has flown all the way from Singapore for the day, and to get a win with him here is huge.
“We always thought he’d be better in the autumn, to be honest. We didn’t know if he would be going out after this run, but we set him for the race and it has all worked out.
“He was down at our Warrnambool stable initially, and now at Cranbourne, it has all worked out well.
“He got a lovely ride and travelled well. As soon as the gates opened, it was on.”
Damian Lane said the son of Savabeel has a bright future.
“He has been well prepared and well educated. He won really well first-up, and he’s obviously come on well from that run,” Lane said.
“I was able to use him a little bit early, put him in a spot, switch him off. Everything you want from a horse he did for me, and I knew I was the winner a long way out.”
Blue Army was a $220,000 purchase for Wattle Bloodstock / HBL Racing from the Widden Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
He is the third winner from as many foals of the Listed stakes-winner Keyarna Blue.
A daughter of O’Reilly, Keyarna Blue is out of the stakes-winning Semipalatinsk mare Oh Blue Angel, giving a 4s x 3d cross to the Eureka Stud stalwart Semipalatinsk.
Sadly, Blue Army is the final foal of Keyarna Blue.
Blue Army becomes the 121st stakes-winner for Waikato Stud’s champion Savabeel.
