Savabeel Blueblood Looking to Continue Family Legacy

Media Release - Tuesday December 19

Regally-bred mare Manifique will get her chance to continue her family’s stakes legacy when she heads to Trentham on Saturday to tackle the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m).

Manifique will contest the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m) at Trentham on Saturday.  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

The daughter of Champion New Zealand stallion Savabeel is out of four-time Group One winner Shez Sinsational, and will be looking to emulate the deeds of her half siblings Sinarahma and House of Cartier as black-type performers.

Manifique has established a strong record to date, having won four of her 15 starts, including her last two outings, and has earned her first tilt at black-type this weekend.

“She has really come of age now. She has never been the biggest Savabeel but she has always had the pedigree and ability, but just needed a bit of time really,” trainer Peter Didham said.

“There were some other options (for her first stakes assignment), but we just thought you could get in on the minimum (53kg) in the Manawatu Cup. it is a well-known race and is sponsored by one of my owners and good friend’s Paul Humphries and his partner.

“It is a Group race and she seems to go well at Wellington. It ticked a few boxes.”

Didham has taken it quietly with the five-year-old mare since her last win at Trentham on December 9 and is confident she will put in a good showing this weekend from barrier eight.

“She has been great and had a nice gallop this (Tuesday) morning on her own over 1000m and I was very pleased with her work,” he said.

While Didham believes she is a natural two-miler, he will be keeping her to middle distances for the immediate future, with an eye to emulating her dam’s Auckland Cup (3200m) heroics next season.

“We just want to get her through this race. She won’t be running two miles this season, that might be a target for next season,” he said.

“There are some really nice stakes races now, we are really pleased with the way stakes have come on. We just want to start slowly, get some black print this weekend and go from there.”

Didham is also looking forward to lining up exciting stablemate Fashion Icon in the Tui Backing A Winner Since 1889 (1200m).

Advertisement

The three-year-old daughter of U S Navy Flag has won her last three starts and will be looking to continue that trend this weekend before a well-deserved break.

We don’t know what her level is yet,” Didham said. “She was going to go to the paddock and I just thought this was another nice race before she has 10 days in the paddock. Then we have to decide where we are going with her.”

Belluci is another mare that has been in good form for Didham, winning fresh-up at Tauherenikau last month before runner-up at Wanganui.

She bypassed Trentham last week with a niggle and Didham is pleased they held off in favour of Saturday’s Manawatu ITM 1100.

“The ideal race with her was last week over 1300m, but she had a bruised heel and was a tiny bit off, so we decided to wait a week with her,” Didham said. “From gate one I imagine she will be hitting the line strong.”

Moon Money will round out Didham’s quartet of runners in The Pavemasters 1400.

“She has been building nicely,” Didham said. “She won nicely at Taupo and she has had no luck since. There are a couple of good runners in there, but she will be a definite top four chance.”

Looking to Otaki on Thursday, Didham will have a trio of representatives, including Glorafilia in the First Yearlings By Hello Youmzain (1600m), Giannis in the Vets on Riverbank (1600m), and debutant Hasbulla in the Vale Peter McKenzie (1200m).

“Glorafilia has been working really well but has a horror draw at 16, but that is Michael McNab’s job to worry about,” Didham said.

“Giannis goes okay but needs to improve a little bit in the mile maiden.

“I have got a filly called Hasbulla that has won two trials. She has a tricky draw of 12, but we have got to run, she has been in and out and drawn wide a couple of times, so we are going to have a go on raceday.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
Regally Bred Savabeel Mare Chasing Black Type
Regally-bred mare Manifique is already assured of a broodmare career, however, trainer Peter Didham is keen to gain some black-type with her before she heads to the breeding barn.
Te Akau Stars Warm Up at Taupo Trials
Perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha headlined a strong contingent of trialists out of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable at Taupo on Monday.
Too Darn Hot Mare Claims Third G1
Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a returning superstar to Darley NSW this spring and there is no doubt he can get an exceptional horse with Fallen Angel capturing her third Group I in France on Sunday when taking out the G1 Prix Rothschild (1m) at Deauville.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
Blue Gum Farm Welcome First Foal of the Season
Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm announced on Monday the arrival of their first foal of the season and there is no mistaking the sire of this gorgeous filly.
Trans Tasman Options for La Crique
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.