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...
Stellar Pauline Sells for $1.15million
Widden Stud might be the home of Zoustar, but Antony Thompson has plenty of respect for reigning champion sire I Am Invincible and secured Stellar Pauline in foal to him for $1.15million at MM National on Wednesday.
Miss Enfield in Foal to Wootton Bassett Sells for $1.25million
Wootton Bassett (GB) has had a hefty fee increase for his return to Coolmore Australia this spring in the wake of overwhelming worldwide success on the track, so blueblood Miss Enfield was an attractive package in foal to him in her first season at stud.
Yulong Purchase Another Oaks winner for $1.45million
Yulong are in the process of collecting paddocks full of Classic winners at their Victorian headquarters and added another at the Magic Millions National Sale on Wednesday when securing Lonhro’s VRC Oaks winner Aristia for $1.45million.
Odinson tops May (Late) Sale at $160,000
The Listed Inglis Nursery winner Odinson topped today’s May (Late) Online Sale, selling to Pure Bloodstock for $160,000.
$2.1million Frankel Mare - Samantha Miss Legacy Ignites MM National
Back in 2009, the most expensive mare sold in Australia was Champion 3YO Filly Samantha Miss, who was bought by John Singleton for $3.85million and today at the Magic Millions National Sale two of her daughters sold for $2.1million and $1.25million, both going to Yulong.
Dirty Work 2YO Dazzling Debut Winner
Widden Stud’s young Written Tycoon son Dirty Work had an impressive debut winner on Wednesday for the Phillip Stokes stable.
Tragedy Sparks Reinvestment for Cressfield - $1.3million Lilliesformillie (USA)
Elite Hunter Valley nursery Cressfield were back in buying mode at the Magic Millions National Sale on Wednesday seeking to restock their stellar broodmare band after losing three G1 winning broodmares last year.
Yulong Top Buyers List as MM National Mares Concludes
The beautifully related Group performer Call Di has topped the second and final day of the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast selling for $2.1million.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday May 28
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$1.1million for Written Beauty - Bought for Farnan
She’s big and beautiful and on her way to Kia Ora Stud, who paid $1.1million for Written Beauty at the Magic Millions National Sale on Wednesday.