Savabeel's Milford Back to Best in G3 Eclipse

Media Release - Saturday November 26

Improved underfoot conditions were the key to Milford returning to winning ways in the Group III Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Milford wins the G3 Eclipse Stakes - image Grant Courtney

The son of Savabeel was given an economical ride near the pace by Blake Shinn and the former New Zealand Derby runner-up pounced when presented.

Successful in the Gr.3 Easter Cup (2000m) on the course earlier this year, Milford had been unplaced in his previous run in the A$2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill but trainer Michael Moroney said the five-year-old had legitimate excuses.

“If you watch his run in Sydney in the Five Diamonds he copped a battering from pillar to post and got one right in the ribs and set off towards the outside fence right on the corner, but he picked himself up and ran home,” Moroney said.

“But the ground was too wet for him so getting back on better ground was the key to him. A couple of runs ago he travelled up like the winner but his wheels began to spin so it was really just a change of ground today.”

Milford has proved particularly effective at Caulfield, which generally drains well, but the Melbourne course will be out of action for at least the next six months as renovations continue at the soon to be two-track venue.

Moroney indicated the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) at Sandown on Boxing Day could be a target for Milford.

Advertisement

“He's just hitting his straps now but we've got to consider the autumn to a degree too and just see what there is for him, it's now sit down and think time for him and let's work it out.

Milford began his career with Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh and won the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) during his three-year-old career, while he was also runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) won by Rocket Spade before joining Moroney’s operation.

Milford and happy connections - image Grant Courtney

Bred by Waikato Stud, Milford was a $360,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale purchase by agent Bruce Perry on behalf of Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock.

He is out of the unraced O’Reilly mare Etiquette and she is a sister to the four-time Group One winner and ill-fated sire Sacred Falls.

Milford’s three-year-old brother Savoir Faire finished fifth in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Lamaro's Hotel Eclipse Stks Gr3 1800m

Caulfield Track: Good(3) Time: 1:48.51
1
Milford
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Etiquette (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: B Shinn 57.5
NZB Ready To Run Sale $640,000
Seller: Ohukia Lodge Ltd
Buyer: Mr DC Ellis
2
0.5
El Gladiador
- 6g Ghibellines (AUS) x Querella (NZ) (Haafiz (IRE))
Tnr: Steven Pateman Rdr: Declan Bates 54
3
0.7
Holbien
- 8g Pierro (AUS) x Carribean Sunset (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: S J Richards Rdr: Fred W Kersley 54
Pierro
4
0.9
Sirileo Miss
- 5m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x She's Sirius (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: B Mc Dougall 56.5
5
1.0
Adelaide Ace
- 6g Savabeel (AUS) x Ampin (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Shane Jackson Rdr: D Yendall 54
6
1.1
Cormorant
- 6g Kingman (GB) x Shemya (FR) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Maddie Raymond Rdr: H Coffey 54
7
2.1
Grandslam
- 5g Myboycharlie (IRE) x Mine Game (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Craig Williams 58
8
3.1
French Emperor
- 4g Tavistock (NZ) x Special Memories (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
9
3.8
Flash Feeling
- 4h Iffraaj (GB) x Shanzam (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 54
10
7.8
Princess Rhaenys
- 5m Iffraaj (GB) x Orinda (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54
11
8.6
Keats
- 6g Galileo (IRE) x Airwave (GB) (Air Express (IRE))
Tnr: Gavin Bedggood Rdr: C Newitt 54
12
11.3
Montign
- 5g Ambidexter (AUS) x Miss Artemis (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: S G Padman Rdr: M J Dee 54
More Reading...
Profondo Weanlings Impress
The first progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Profondo made a favourable impression during the NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka on Thursday.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Tops NZB Weanling Sale
Little Avondale stallion Per Incanto’s outstanding season carried on in the Karaka sale ring on Thursday, where his weanling colt fetched a sale-topping $190,000 in the opening hour of the NZB National Weanling Sale.
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.
Savabeel's Milford Breaks The Drought
It took eight starts for NZ Derby runner-up Milford to break his duck in Australia, which he achieved in style in Saturday’s Group III Neds Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield.
$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.
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.
Mulberry Racing Secure Everest Slot
Racing NSW today announced that Mulberry Racing has secured a slot in the $20 million TAB Everest for a term of three years commencing with the running of this year’s race.
Coles Bows Out After 60 Years
Pukekohe’s Wednesday meeting marked the end of an era for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, as Ross Coles, a treasured figure in the industry, retired after 60 years as Clerk of the Course.
Do Early Winners Equate to Long Term Stud Success?
As we move towards the end of the racing season, attention invariably focuses on first season sires and who will be the leader of the cohort by winners and it’s a close run race this year, but does any of it matter in the grand scheme of things?
Kaha Nui Swoop on Pinhook Prospects
Successful pinhookers Kaha Nui Farm were to the fore at Karaka on Thursday, and were rewarded with the crown of leading buyer at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale.