Savabeel's Fields Of Courage Dominant on Debut

Mark Smith - Wednesday August 28

Making a belated career debut following his scratching at the barrier at Sandown on March 6, the 4-year-old Savabeel debutant Fields Of Courage made it worth the wait with a hugely impressive performance in Wednesday's Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Maiden Plate (1300m) at Sandown-Hillside.

Could not have been more impressive (image Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

Settled midfield by Mark Zahra, the Mike Moroney and Glen Thompson-trained gelding came with a barnstorming finish to defeat the honest 3-year-old I Amn Immortal gelding Athantos by a length with the 3-year-old So You Think debutant Mollify two lengths back in third.

Fields Of Courage is Thompson's first winner since joining forces with Mike Moroney.

Advertisement

"He could not have been more impressive," Thompson said.

"It's good to get him to the races finally. He has always shown a fair bit at home. Mark has done a fair bit on him in jumpouts and was keen on him.

"He has no issues; it was a time and maturity thing. We will see how he comes through today, but there is no reason not to keep going."

Sporting the colours of Ruper Legh, Fields Of Courage was a $425,000 buy for P Moroney / C Bruggeman / Hong Kong Bloodstock from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Fields Of Courage a $425,000 Inglis Easter yearling

Bred by Bloomsbury Stud, the son of Savabeel is the second winner from as many to race for the O'Reilly mare Pander, a half-sister to multiple Group winner and near $2,000,000 earner Precedence.

Pander's final foal is a 2-year-old Prosir filly named Precede.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Mdn Plate 1300m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Good(4) Time: 1:17.26
1
Fields Of Courage
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Pander (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson Rdr: M Zahra 59.5
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $425,000
Seller: Sledmere Stud, Scone
Buyer: P Moroney / C Bruggeman / Hong Kong Bloodstock
2
1
Athanatos
- 3g I Am Immortal (AUS) x Mumbeilly (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 57
3
3
Mollify
- 3f So You Think (NZ) x Mitigate (GB) (Lawman (FR))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Carleen Hefel 55
4
3.4
Thoughtful Woman
- 6m Reliable Man (GB) x Thoughtfulness (AUS) (Congrats (USA))
Tnr: R E Laing Rdr: Jamie Kah 57.5
5
4.4
Jakivy
- 4g Toronado (IRE) x Stiletto Rock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: R J Besanko Rdr: Beau Mertens 59.5
6
4.6
Narbold
- 3c Churchill (IRE) x Noblest (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damian Lane 57
7
5.8
Art 'N' Soul
- 3g Soul Patch (AUS) x Hot Art (AUS) (Excellent Art (GB))
Tnr: K & K Keys Rdr: L Currie 57
8
8.8
Dissalto
- 5g Dissident (AUS) x Aalto (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: Brooke Verwey-Mitchell Rdr: S V Brown 59.5
9
9.3
Both Sides Now
- 4m Puissance De Lune (IRE) x Celestial Dance (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: John Allen 57.5
10
9.8
Big Energy
- 4m Lean Mean Machine (AUS) x Fast Shanti (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Deanne Taylor Rdr: C Newitt 57.5
11
12
Our Girl Britney
- 6m Foxwedge (AUS) x What's The Plan (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: Richard Laming Rdr: Craig Williams 57.5
12
12.5
Calian
- 3g Brutal (NZ) x Limealicious (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jordan Childs 57
13
14
Shot At The Night
- 4g Puissance De Lune (IRE) x Chausson Dore (IRE) (Hawk Wing (USA))
Tnr: John R Allen Rdr: Ben Allen 59.5
More Reading...
Rising Stars - Metro 2YO Double for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) unleashed not one but two exciting juveniles at Warwick Farm on Wednesday with the opening race going to the colt Regulated Affair and shortly after it was the turn of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly Agarwood.
First Win for Sword of State Half-Sister
Well-related filly Paravane broke through for her maiden win in pleasing fashion at Ellerslie on Wednesday when taking out the Join TAB Racing Club 1200 in the hands of senior hoop Vinnie Colgan.
Japanese Bred Filly Wins At Eagle Farm
Could trainer Kris Lees have the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) on his mind after his three-year-old, northern hemisphere bred filly Eclair Encore (Jpn) recorded a strong victory over 1800m at Eagle Farm.
Queensland Calling for Exciting Wootton Bassett Colt
Champion trainer Chris Waller is renowned for producing talented back season juveniles that blossom into stakes performers and we saw one at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when heavily backed Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Regulated Affair opened his account.
Castelvecchio Filly Records Promising Victory
Having placed in her first two starts, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman trained Street Lark (Castelvecchio) appeared to appreciate the step up to the 1500m of Wednesday’s Sportsbet Get On Extra Plate at Caulfield to break her maiden with a promising performance..
Sires With Winners - Wednesday May 7
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Inglis Chairman’s Sale-Toppers – Where Are They Now?
A star studded renewal of the Inglis Chairman’s Sale will light up Riverside Stables this evening from 5pm with glamour girls Bella Nipotina and Amelia’s Jewel vying for top honours, so we’re taking a quick look back to check in on some of the stars from the past.
Pedigree Watch – Euro 3YO Chester Classic Trials
Godolphin have been dominating the Northern Hemisphere classics in spectacular fashion on both sides of the Atlantic, but Coolmore had their turn at Chester overnight producing a homebred colt from a family with an Aussie offshoot and a sale-topping filly with Derby and Oaks aspirations.
Million Dollar Goal for I Am Invincible Filly
Tony and Calvin McEvoy landed a lucrative victory in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May last year with Arabian Summer and are hopeful they have another filly that can do the job this year in Sisstainable.
So You Think Filly Shows Oaks Potential
The Bjorn Baker stable has been on fire this year and it’s full steam ahead to Queensland for talented So You Think filly Dame Commander, who beat older rivals at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.