Stud Colours Carried to Victory

Media Release - Wednesday June 28

It was a rewarding day for Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray at Cambridge on Wednesday, with the local training partnership heading home with a winning double.

Nereus winning for Waikato Stud at Cambridge on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images

They kicked the day off in style when Nereus carried breeder-owner Waikato Stud’s silks to his maiden victory in the Saddlery Warehouse 1550, while a few races later, stablemate Timing hoisted Windsor Park Stud’s colours aloft when winning the ITM/GIB Winter Championship 1300.

“It is always nice when you are training well-bred horses for the bigger studs,” Shaune Ritchie said.

“It is good branding for us when we have got horses by Savabeel for Waikato Stud and Windsor Park are supporting us with Ben Kwok.

“It is nice to have that quality of horse coming through the door, especially with the fillies that they will no doubt breed from in time.”

Ritchie has plenty of time for Nereus, a full-brother  to Group One winner Savvy Coup, and he believes he will be competitive in some staying assignments later in the year.

“The Savabeel is showing a lot of promise, he might be a nice summer stayer,” he said.

Ritchie was also pleased to get the win with Timing after a frustrating run with draws.

“She had been drawing the outside gate in her last four starts. Out of sheer frustration we decided to run her today,” he said.

Advertisement

“What a superb ride from Michael McNab. He summed the race up very quickly and he is certainly the superior jockey this time of year. We are lucky to still have him in New Zealand.

“His ride was excellent on Timing and she is an improving filly as well.”

Looking ahead to the weekend, Ritchie will head north to Ruakaka on Saturday where Roc Dancer will line-up in the Tanalised Mile (1600m).

“I reckon she is a big chance,” he said.

“She has drawn out a bit (in her last few starts) and we have had to ride her cold a couple of times. She has given them some pretty big head starts.

“She doesn’t have to get quite as back as she has done in the past (from barrier 2) and she has won on the track. A little bit of rain about wouldn’t hurt her either.

“There are plenty of positives with her and it is a pretty even line-up. I would be disappointed if she wasn’t a nice eachway chance.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for Savabeel

Savabeel in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Savabeel Stayer Wins G2 Awapuni Gold Cup
Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray continued an outstanding season with their stayers when up-and-coming star Nereus powered home to win the Gr.2 City Of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.