First Winner for Valachi Downs Stallion Savile Row

Media Release - Thursday February 24

Valachi Downs stallion Savile Row made the perfect start to his career as a sire when his daughter Perfectly Suited scored on debut at Wanganui on Thursday.

The juvenile was sent straight to the front in the Whanganui Chronicle 2YO (1200m) by jockey Bridget Grylls and the pair didn’t relinquish their advantage, with Perfectly Suited kicking clear of her rivals when turning for home, eventually running out a 6-1/2 length victor over Vino Bianca.

Perfectly Suited winning at Wanganui on Thursday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Co-trainer Stephen Autridge was thrilled with the result, with Perfectly Suited the first starter for her sire. She is out of the three-win Sir Percy mare Muscat Hills.  

“I am absolutely rapt,” said Autridge, who trains the filly in partnership with Kris Shailer for their employers Valachi Downs.

“She is a beautiful filly who is great to do anything with. She has always shown that she has had ability.”

Perfectly Suited was originally set to make her debut at New Plymouth last Friday, however, with the meeting abandoned her trainers were forced to make alternative plans which put a stop to a potential black-type target.

“We were a bit unlucky that she didn’t go around at Taranaki the other day because if she had won, I was going to back her up in the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.2, 1200m),” Autridge said.

While she won’t get a crack at any stakes assignments as a juvenile, Autridge said there will be plenty of opportunities for the filly next season.

“We won’t get too carried away,” he said. “We will just give her another race or two and then a bit of a break. She should be an ideal three-year-old filly.”

Valachi Downs general manager Gareth Downey said there was an outpouring of emotion following the win, with Savile Row holding a special place in the hearts of the Matamata farm’s principals Kevin and Joanna Hickman.

Advertisement

“I reckon that will be one of the best feelings the Hickmans have had in racing,” Downey said.

“He means so much to them that stallion, and they’ve got so much faith in him.

“He hasn’t served a lot of mares and to win with his first race day runner is fantastic. Kevin and Joanna have been talking for some time about Savile Row’s first runners and finally, today, it’s started with a victory. And to see her win like that, they’re absolutely over the moon.

“I’ve spoken to them both and they’re incredibly excited, and their daughter Jasmine messaged me to say she was in tears and said it means more than she can put into words.

“She was very well ridden by Bridget (Grylls) and that’s exactly how we wanted her to be ridden. We had quite high hopes but didn’t think she was going to win like that and by such a big margin.

“I watched it in the office and our farm manager Tommy Hazlett has just gone out in the paddock to give Savile Row a big pat.

“We’ve got a few in the stable by Savile Row and, without being biased, we really do like all of them. Although not having served many mares, we think he could be a chance of making it as a sire.

“He was quite a brilliant racehorse, has a terrific pedigree, and to begin his stallion career with such a smart winner is obviously a great advertisement for him.”

A good looking son of Makfi, Savile Row won three of his 13 starts for breeder-owner Kevin Hickman before retiring to stud, including the Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap (1200m), and was runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m). – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Whanganui Chronicle 2yo 1200m

Wanganui Track: Dead(5) Time: 1:12.04
1
Perfectly Suited
- 2f Savile Row (NZ) x Muscat Hills (NZ) (Sir Percy (GB))
Tnr: S Autridge & K Shailer Rdr: B E Grylls 55
2
6.3
Vino Bianca
- 2f Proisir (AUS) x Starry Heights (NZ) (Scaredee Cat (NZ))
Tnr: G H Sharrock Rdr: A C Goindasamy 54
NZB Ready To Run Sale $250,000
Seller: Ohukia Lodge
Buyer: Mr Ken Leung
Inglis Ready2Race Sale $0
Seller: Ohukia Lodge, Cambridge, NZ
Buyer: Withdrawn
NZB Karaka Book 1 $150,000
Seller: Seaton Park Ltd
Buyer: Ohukia Lodge Ltd
3
7.1
Sophmaze
- 2f Derryn (AUS) x Miss Isle (NZ) (Bachelor Duke (USA))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: L J Allpress 55
4
8.4
Carrington
- 2f No Nay Never (USA) x Fashion News (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: M G Forbes Rdr: J Kamaruddin 53
5
9.7
Total Recall
- 2f Darci Brahma (NZ) x Reminisce (NZ) (Roc De Cambes (NZ))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55
6
12.7
Sequoia Star
- 2f Redwood (GB) x Red Mariete (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: J G Bary Rdr: L T Hemi 55
7
19.7
Neighomi Campbell
- 2f Complacent (AUS) x De Lago Lady (NZ) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: B D Revell Rdr: R J Hannam 55
8
23.7
Tap Dancer
- 2f Preferment (NZ) x Happy Feet (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: S C Ivil Rdr: M K Hudson 55
More Reading...
Winning Hat Trick for So You Think Filly
So You Think has ticked over $12million in seasonal earnings with 150 plus winners including seven stakes-winners and while Covert Thinking is not among the luminaries by her sire, this tenacious 3YO has won three on the trot and landed her first metro victory on Wednesday.
Lisa Kennedy Recognized for Thoroughbred Welfare
Lisa Kennedy has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, and her efforts in guiding retired racehorses into new careers through EventStars were celebrated at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards last Sunday as the winner of the Care and Welfare Excellence Award.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
Starlust Retired - Riverstone Lodge Next Stop
Zoustar’s brilliant Group I winning son Starlust (GB) has been retired following his excellent close up fourth in the Group I King Charles Stakes (5f) at Royal Ascot last month.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
G1 Older Sprinters- Are Our Sprinters the Best in the World?
The Australian G1 season has concluded and there were 23 Group I races won by older horses at a distance less than 1600m, but one race that fits the category but is yet to be given G1 status is the $10million Golden Eagle (1500m) and form out of it would suggest it was the best of them all.
I Am Unstoppable New for Oaklands Stud
Queenslanders have not had a great deal of opportunity to breed to sons of champion sire I Am Invincible with just two listed to stand in the sunshine state this spring, although we can now make that three with Oaklands Stud announcing the addition of Group I performer I Am Unstoppable.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 2
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.