Kiwi Breds Dominate at Caulfield - Captain Envious Wins G3 Easter Cup

Media Release - Saturday April 6

Kiwi breds won all three stakes races at  Caulfield on Saturday with Captain Envious following on from early Black Type success for Gold Wolf and Here to Shock - A ground saving ride by Thomas Stockdale paved the way for the Paul Preusker-trained Captain Envious to upset the applecart when he prevailed in a thrilling finish top the Gr.3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.

Captain Envious (green and black cap) pushes through the gap to get up and win the Gr.3 Easter Cup at Caulfield. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

The son of Savabeel went into the race after two less than impressive efforts to open his autumn campaign with punters sending last year’s Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) winner out at odds of better than $32 on the tote.

He looked to be travelling easily in midfield against the fence for Stockdale midway through the contest but started to get cluttered up in traffic approaching the home bend.

Stockdale angled him between eventual runner-up Jennilala and race favourite First Immortal at the 200m and he burst through the narrow gap to take the lead in the shadows of the post and record his sixth career victory.

Stable representative Sonya Brockenbauer indicated her heart was in her mouth as Captain Envious tried to force his way between runners.

“It was a fairly small gap and when it started to close up, I thought we have lost it here but he managed to tough it out and push through and get the job done,” she said.

“He is a little bit of a tricky horse as he has been here since 11:30am so he has had six hours of walking before the race but he makes it all worthwhile.

“He is very quirky and even trying to put the rug on him sets him off.

“Paul thinks so much of this horse and I’m sure he had a bob or two on him.”

Advertisement

Stockdale was also full of praise for the horse who showed plenty of courage to charge his way through between horses.

“It was tight and I had both horses coming in on me but credit to the horse as he had to punch through and still get the job done,” Stockdale said.

“He took a long time to pull up after the post so I think he will be looking for further now.

“He really liked the fast tempo throughout as he could camp off it and then present late.

“He is gutsy and tough and has had a little bit of a blow after the line so he will come on with this one.”

Captain Envious races in the colours of his breeders, Ultra Thoroughbred Racing. He is by Savabeel out of the Italian-bred mare My Central, who won seven races including the Gr.3 Balanchine Stakes (1800m) in Dubai.

All of the Central Park mare’s four foals to race have been winners, with Captain Envious the first to win at stakes level. My Central is also the granddam of Umgawa, who has won four races and finished second in the Gr.3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) in Melbourne.

He has now won six of his 19 starts and just over $648,000 in prizemoney. -NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for Savabeel

Savabeel in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Easter Cup Gr3 2000m

Caulfield Track: Soft(5) Time: 2:03.44
1
Captain Envious
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x My Central (ITY) (Central Park (IRE))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 56.5
Inglis May (Early) Online Sale $47,500
Seller: Ultra Thoroughbreds (as agent)
Buyer: John Leek
2
0.3
Jennilala
- 4m Shalaa (IRE) x Rosarian (AUS) (Manhattan Rain (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: H Coffey 54
Shalaa
3
0.4
Deny Knowledge
- 6m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x The Paris Shrug (GB) (Manduro (GER))
Tnr: M C Kent Rdr: B Mc Dougall 57
Pride Of Dubai
4
0.8
Aberfeldie Boy
- 4g So You Think (NZ) x Absolute Joy (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
5
1.5
Berkeley Square
- 4g Territories (IRE) x Bahamas (AUS) (Teofilo (IRE))
Tnr: Dan O'Sullivan Rdr: John Allen 56.5
6
1.5
Future History
- 6g Showcasing (GB) x Likelihood (USA) (Mizzen Mast (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Ethan Brown 58.5
7
2.2
First Immortal
- 4g Churchill (IRE) x Storm Siren (AUS) (Excites (AUS))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: J Mott 57.5
8
2.6
Shaiyhar
- 5g Camelot (GB) x Sharliyna (IRE) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
9
4.9
Suizuro
- 4g Real Impact (JPN) x Sussuro (AUS) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: C Newitt 57
10
7.4
Carini
- 5g Siyouni (FR) x Candarliya (FR) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: W Egan 54
11
7.5
Panfield
- 7h Lookin At Lucky (USA) x Esterina (ARG) (Orpen (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Beau Mertens 59
More Reading...
Vale, Ryan Smith
Victorian breeding farm Kulani Park are mourning the loss of partner and family member Ryan Smith.
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.
$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-
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.
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.
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.
Kiwi Bred Quinella in Listed Ballarat Cup - NEW SW Savabeel
Emerging stayer Captain Envious took his career to a new level with a runaway victory in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m), leading home a Kiwi-bred quinella in Saturday’s A$500,000 feature.
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.
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.
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.