Te Akau Savabeel Mare Seeking G1

Media Release - Thursday March 28

Quality performer Fashion Shoot has yet to win beyond 1400m, but the in-form mare’s camp is confident she can go the distance at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared representative will step up to a mile in the hands of Opie Bosson in the Gr.1 NZEA New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), having produced a flawless dress rehearsal.

Fashion Shoot will contest Saturday's Gr.1 NZEA New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie.   Photo: Race Images South

Fashion Shoot defeated dual elite level winner Mustang Valley last time out at Tauranga and, despite a 3kg weight shift in favour of her race rival, another top showing is expected from the six-year-old.

She will spearhead a quartet of runners at the meeting with Bosson to also partner Puketiro and I Choose You in their undercard assignments while Vinnie Colgan will be aboard She Turns Heads.

“Fashion Shoot is in really good form and thriving on her racing. This is the time to have a crack at the trip,” Bergerson said.

“She’s drawn out a bit but she’s better ridden cold so it shouldn’t make too much of a difference.

“She always tries her heart out and the key is to get her to settle. If she gets the splits, then I’m sure she can give it a good shake.

“The two favourites (La Crique and Mustang Valley) will be very hard to beat but we are happy with our mare.”

Fashion Shoot has the tidy record of seven wins, including the Gr.3 Canterbury Stakes (1400m) and 14 placings from 31 starts and a Group One credit will significantly boost her future broodmare value.

Stablemate Puketiro, also a daughter of Savabeel, hasn’t raced since November but is forward to return to action in the Fiber Fresh Handicap (1200m).

The winner of four of her seven starts, the four-year-old has trialled at Tauranga and Taupo ahead of her return.

Advertisement

“She’s always been above average and can get a bit fiery at times, but this time around she is going well,” Bergerson said.

“Hopefully, she will run well and we can get her to that Listed race (City of Napier Sprint, 1200m) at Otaki in a few weeks’ time.”

I Choose You will bid for two wins on the bounce in the Entain-NZB Pearl Series Final (1400m) after successfully resuming at Trentham earlier this month.

“She won really well and seems to be settling a lot better now,” Bergerson said.

“She was stakes placed as a two-year-old in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr.2, 1200m) and we’ve always thought highly of her, but she has been a bit disappointing since her two-year-old year.

“Her work at home has been super this time around and her galloped well on Tuesday so hopefully she can continue on from that first-up win.”

She Turns Heads is a consistent filly and makes strong each way appeal in the Barfoot & Thompson Handicap (1400m).

“She’s had 13 starts for a win and 10 placings so it was good to see her finally break through at Matamata and she ran well again at Tauranga,” Bergerson said.

“She has drawn wide (9), but we will ride her cold so it shouldn’t make any difference and hopefully she can put her hand up again.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for Savabeel

Savabeel in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Tragic News from Milburn Creek – Vale, Secret Admirer
Spring brings so many foaling stories from our studs each year and while the majority have a happy ending, sometimes things sadly don’t go as planned.
Kiwi Cup Hopeful Headed to Melbourne
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Wolfgang will fly to Melbourne on Wednesday to commence his path towards the A$10 million feature.
MRC Committee Returned Unopposed
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has confirmed the results of the 2025 nominations for the MRC Executive Committee and the Mornington Advisory Group (MAG), which will be formally ratified at the Club’s Annual General Meeting on 25 September.
Kennedy’s Cup Week Raid Continues with Breeders’ Crown
The Riccarton Park crowd is getting all too used to the masterful tactics of Warren Kennedy, and the premiership-leading hoop produced another black-type winning ride in guiding Fashion Shoot to victory in the Group 3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
$3.3million Gun Runner Colt Tops Keeneland September Day 1
Keeneland’s 2025 September Yearling Sale began Monday with double-digit gains while posting a record average price of $653,208 and selling 15 horses for $1 million or more led by a colt by Gun Runner for $3.3 million to M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm. The average topped the previous record $611,038 for a single session set during Day 2 in 2024, and the number of seven-
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 9
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Waller Army Leads Cox Plate First Acceptances
Defending champion Via Sistina is among 21 horses champion trainer Chris Waller still has in contention for the $6 million 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, following the closure of first acceptances on Tuesday.
Mulberry Racing Purchase $550,000 Colt at Keeneland September
Australian based Mulberry Racing featured on the buyers list during the first session of the Keenland September Yearling Sale purchasing a colt by Quality Road for $550,000.
Another Impressive New Winner St Mark’s Basilica
A colt that holds entries for several upcoming Group races, Piazza San Marco became the 12th winner for Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (FR) when bolting in at Galway overnight.
Cogburn Sire Not This Time on Fire at Keeneland September
If you have been considering sending a mare to Widden Stud’s exciting new shuttle sire Cogburn (USA) or have already booked one in you are going to be pretty interested in what is going on at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale this week where his sire Not This Time is in hot demand.