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.

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"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.

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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
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
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