Savabeel Mare Wins G2 Matriarch

Media Release - Saturday November 5

Former Kiwi mare Atishu relished the good tempo in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) to take out the feature mares’ race on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington.

Atishu wins the G2 Matriarch Stakes - image Grant Courtney

Sporting the silks of syndicators Go Racing, the five-year-old daughter of Savabeel had put the writing on the wall when finding the line well when fifth in last week’s Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).

On the back of that performance, the Chris Waller-trained mare was sent out $2.50 favourite and punters had little to worry about as the daughter of Savabeel was expertly handled by James McDonald.

Coming from midfield, Atishu stormed home to score by a comfortable two-lengths from Steinem, with another former New Zealand-trained galloper Tokorangi finishing third.

The winner of seven races, Saturday’s Group Two victory is the best performance to date by Atishu, who had previously been a Group Three winner for Waller, while she was a multiple Listed winner in New Zealand when prepared by Stephen Marsh.

“She’s always been a bit unlucky and threatened to win a decent one and she’s got a good prize today,” Waller said.

“Everything’s sort of gone wrong with her over the last eighteen months and even last Saturday she didn’t have a lot of luck in the Empire Rose, so it’s always a great race as a backup plan and she has won over 2000m in New Zealand before. We finally got her up to the trip today and she certainly appreciated it.”

The champion trainer said there were plenty of options for Atishu into the autumn to chase an elusive Group One success.

Advertisement

Winning jockey James McDonald said the speed of the race set by Sirileo Miss was to Atishu’s advantage.

“She relaxed well. The tempo was on and if a high class mare like this couldn’t win today she was in a world of pain,” McDonald said.

“She travelled beautifully into the race, she felt like the winner a long way from home and she would’ve looked like it too.

“She was building towards that solid performance, her run had the writing on the wall last start and backing up, 2000m, by Savabeel, what more could you ask for?”

Atishu is now a G2 winner! - image Grant Courtney

Bred by Waikato Stud, Atishu is by their champion sire Savabeel out of the No Excuse Needed mare Posy, who won two races and is a sister to the former Champion Three-Year-Old and multiple Group One winner Daffodil.

Atishu is a sister to the Waikato Stud-raced Mazzolino, a smart three-year-old that has placed twice at stakes level from the stable of Stephen Marsh.

Albert Bosma’s Go Racing went to $260,000 to secure Atishu as a yearling from Waikato Stud’s 2019 Karaka Book 1 draft. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Matriarch Stakes Gr2 2000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 2:01.15
1
Atishu
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
2
2.0
Steinem
- 5m Frankel (GB) x Thai Noon (IRE) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 57
3
3.3
Tokorangi
- 5m Redwood (GB) x Agent Ziva (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Ethan Brown 55
4
3.4
Honeycreeper
- 4m Teofilo (IRE) x Painted Firetail (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: N Rawiller 57
5
4.6
Sirileo Miss
- 5m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x She's Sirius (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: B Melham 57
6
5.8
Elusive Express
- 4m Jakkalberry (IRE) x Braided (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 58
7
5.9
Polly Grey
- 8m Azamour (IRE) x Allanah (NZ) (Zenno Rob Roy (JPN))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 57
8
7.7
The Map
- 4m Alpine Eagle (AUS) x This Moment (AUS) (Savoire Vivre (GB))
Tnr: D Clarken & O Macgillivray Rdr: Damien Thornton 55
9
8.4
Dynasties
- 4m Sebring (AUS) x Empress Rock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
10
8.5
Thought Provoking
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Zerello (NZ) (Zerpour (IRE))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Alana Kelly 55
11
10.8
Foxy Frida
- 5m Foxwedge (AUS) x Family Portrait (AUS) (Excellent Art (GB))
Tnr: Andrew Noblet Rdr: D Oliver 56
12
13.0
Glory Bound
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x The Tidy Express (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: L Nolen 55.5
More Reading...
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Kiwi Bred Atishu Set to Shine Again at Flemington
Group One-winning mare Atishu will be seeking redemption in Saturday’s Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington after finishing runner-up in the race last year to Pride of Jenni.
Atishu Ready to Go Racing in 2025
Multiple Group One winner Atishu will kick-off what will likely be her last racing campaign when she heads to Randwick on Saturday to contest what is shaping to be a very competitive Gr.2 Apollo Stakes (1400m).
Go Racing Ready to Farewell Atishu
After 10 wins, more than $4 million in stakes and three seasons of putting Go Racing’s name in lights in Australia, the Kiwi syndicators’ remarkable ride with Atishu is set to come to an end in Saturday’s Gr.1 Queen of the Turf (1600m) at Randwick.
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Last Hurrah Looms for Atishu
Multiple Group One winner Atishu will bid to have a fairytale ending to her racing career when she heads to Randwick on Saturday to contest the Gr.1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m).
Blueblood Filly a Third Winner for Tagaloa
Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa is one of the more affordable sires on the Yulong roster and he sired his third winner at Bendigo on Thursday when well bred filly Teine Aulelia made a winning debut.
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.