$620,000 Savabeel Filly from G1 Winner Thee Auld Floozie

Media Release - Monday January 29

As well as making an outstanding start to the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale as a vendor, Elsdon Park principal Lib Petagna added an exciting young prospect to his racing team with a high-priced Savabeel filly late on Monday afternoon.

Elsdon Park is in only its second year as a yearling vendor at Karaka, having sold 13 yearlings last year for a total of $2.3 million and an average price of $176,923.

Sheamus Mills went to $650,000 to secure the Savabeel x Stolen Gem filly from the draft of Haunui Farm. Photo: Trish Dunell

The Waikato nursery will far surpass those figures in 2024, already selling 10 horses for $3.15 million at an average of $315,500.

But the purchase of Lot 479 for $620,000 on Monday put an extra spring in Petagna’s step. The filly was offered by Jamieson Park and is by Savabeel out of the Group One-winning mare Thee Auld Floozie.

The well-related filly received a notable pedigree update over the weekend. Her half-sister Just A Floozie, who had beaten Orchestral, Molly Bloom and Still Bangon in a form-filled juvenile race at Avondale last autumn, returned to action with an eye-catching finish for fourth in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie.

“Lib’s had a great sale as a vendor,” bloodstock agent Bruce Perry said. “I think one of the things that’s been noticeable is the comments around the fact that he’s got a lot of lovely young mares. It’s nice to be able to go back and keep purchasing some nice fillies for him. It’s exciting.”

Petagna’s distinctive apple green, dark blue and yellow colours have been carried by some outstanding daughters of Savabeel, most notably the triple Group One heroine Lucia Valentina and fellow elite winner Nicoletta.

Advertisement

“We’ve had a lot of success with Savabeel fillies in the past, and this filly reminded me a lot of some of those very best ones,” Perry said.

“We actually loved Orchestral when she came through this sale in 2022 and had a really good crack at her. I also really liked the half-sister to this filly that ran in the three-year-old race the other night, so we know the family well.

“I see quite a bit of James Chapman’s horses in the paddock throughout the year. I think, at one stage, I offered to him, ‘Will you take 600 for that filly in the paddock?’ And now that we’ve bought her in the ring, he reminded me. He said, ‘You offered me 600 in the paddock for that horse.’

“So, no, I thought she was a beauty, and I think she’s got residual value. The half-sister goes particularly well and ran a huge race the other night, so there’s a lot of upside.

“This filly will go back to the farm now and get broken in, and we’ll just see how she goes. With what’s happening here in the industry, there’s a big carrot now to retain more horses in New Zealand. It gives you the confidence, I think, to get these nice horses and have a go. And Australia’s always only three hours away, so I think it’s brilliant.” – NZ Racing Desk.

Visit the profile page for Savabeel

Savabeel in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Briasa Boost as More Youngsters Impress on HIT Sale Eve
The timing couldn’t be better for a sale page's pedigree boost, with Briasa announcing himself as one of Australia’s most exciting sprinters following his dominant victory in Saturday’s $1 million Group Two Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 7
Here is the full list of 25 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Recent success highlights Inglis Digital October (Early) Sale
A range of exciting racing and breeding prospects – as well as a number of in-form racehorses and shares in Stakes winners – headline the Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale.
Sword of State 2YO Ready for Debut
A pair of promising youngsters are set to make their debut for Cambridge trainer Chad Ormsby at Avondale on Wednesday, but track conditions may scupper plans for one of them.
2025 G1 Caulfield Guineas Field and Barrier Draw
A full field plus emergencies have accepted for the $3million Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday with Golden Rose runners Wodeton, Autumn Boy, Nepotism and Rivellino all engaged.
Hot Lots Day 1 - Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1
The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (October 7 – 9) kicks off tonight our time and for those interested in the number one  yearling sale in Europe we are taking a look at some of the yearlings tipped to top each day and they include a colt from an Aussie G1 winner.
MM Gold Coast Horses In Training Sale Links
Tuesday saw the final breeze ups at the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale which starts on Thursday so here’s our links to useful data including the pinhook report, with most lots having been sold previously.