Savaglee Wins Drama Packed G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas

Media Release - Wednesday October 2

There was plenty of drama with the abandonment of last Saturday’s feature meeting at Hawke’s Bay, and that drama continued at the transferred meeting at Matamata on Wednesday in the running of the Gr.2 AHD Animal Health Direct – Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m).

Short-priced favourite Captured By Love reared up as the gates were released, losing six lengths at the start, and what looked to be all chance in the three-year-old feature.

Savaglee (white silks) narrowly takes out the Gr.2 AHD Animal Health Direct – Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Matamata.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

So Naïve took up the pace making role up front, while second favourite Savaglee was posted three-wide throughout. The race looked to be a three-way go down the straight between leader So Naïve, Poetic Champion and a brave Savaglee, with the latter getting the judge’s call following a photo finish with So Naïve, while Te Akau Racing’s Captured By Love put in the run of the race to capture third place.

It took several minutes for the judge to declare a winner, and trainer Pam Gerard was sure Savaglee had failed to get up, but was relieved to hear otherwise over the loudspeaker.

“We were in the stand, and it looked like a good neck or so (that So Naïve had won), but it is an angle, so I am going to take it because they don’t usually go our way,” she said.

“He was a little bit fresh today, he did a lot wrong. He got posted three-wide and Sam (Spratt, jockey) said he was colty around at the gates and it showed coming for home, he wanted to lie on the other horse (Poetic Champion) a bit.

“He has got a really good turn of foot and he didn’t quite have that today, so he has done it tough but he has got the job done.”

The Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton next month remains Savaglee’s ultimate aim this preparation, and Gerard is looking forward to travelling the colt.

“He is better when he is away from his home track,” she said. “We are building up, we want the Group One.”

Advertisement

The Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa on Labour Day will likely be his next target, and Gerard said he will have the addition of some gear.

“He has got to concentrate,” she said. “We have got the blinkers up our sleeve, which he had last year, and they will be going on pretty quickly, probably next start just to make sure he is totally focussed.”

While Gerard was not confident of a winning result when Savaglee passed the post on Wednesday, jockey Sam Spratt was.

“I thought I got it on the line, but I wasn’t sure, I thought my head was well in front,” she said.

“It was a tough effort, he got posted wide, but I opted to cuddle him up because if I pushed forward they would have kicked forward with me, and it would have been even worse. I had to take a breather and embrace the three-wide train.

“He was extra excited to be here. The whole way up the straight he was trying to lie on the other horse, Poetic Champion, a little bit. I think he might have been on the fresh side after it being called off (last Saturday). It was a tough effort.”

Spratt believes Savaglee will take a lot of improvement from the run, and she is excited by his prospects in the 2000 Guineas.

“I think there is huge improvement, and I think he just proved it,” she said. “He is definitely going to see the mile out, he is just as tough as nails.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for Savabeel

Savabeel in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - AHD Animal Health Direct Hawke's Bay Guineas Gr2 1400m

Matamata Track: Good(4) Time: 1:23.08
1
Savaglee
- 3c Savabeel (AUS) x Glee (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms P Gerard Rdr: S C Spratt 57
2
0.1
So Naive
- 3c U S Navy Flag (USA) x Altai Rose (NZ) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: C J Grylls 57
3
0.4
Captured By Love
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Moldova (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: W B Kennedy 55
4
0.4
Poetic Champion
- 3g Super Seth (AUS) x Regally Blonde (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 57
5
1.5
Belardi
- 3g Belardo (IRE) x Japonica (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: Joe Doyle 57
6
1.8
Full Force
- 3g Cosmic Force (AUS) x Jawhara (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Hollie Wynyard Rdr: R T Elliot 57
7
2
Unbridled Joy
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Joy Forever (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: O P Bosson 57
8
3.3
Super Photon
- 3c Super Seth (AUS) x Chandelier (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S R Weatherley 57
9
4.5
Whiskey 'N Roses
- 3g Belardo (IRE) x Fullinbloom (NZ) (Fully Fledged (NZ))
Tnr: Ms J Surgenor Rdr: V A Colgan 57
10
6.3
Toruk Makto
- 3c Eminent (IRE) x Showmuchfun (NZ) (Bachelor Duke (USA))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: K A Myers 57
More Reading...
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
Savaglee Pushing on to G1 Australian Guineas
Gun New Zealand three-year-old Savaglee got his first taste of Australian racing on home soil on Saturday when placing behind Aussie raiders Here To Shock and Bosustow in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, and his connections are now looking forward to testing his talents across the Tasman.
Savabeel Colt Brilliant in G2 Levin Classic
Class three-year-old Savaglee stepped out for the first time since his devastating victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November and absolutely destroyed a small but handy field in Saturday’s Gr.2 Top Kat Roofing Levin Classic (1400m) at Trentham.
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
Savaglee Likely to Spell
Gun three-year-old Savaglee will likely head to the spelling paddock following his heroic runner-up performance behind fellow Kiwi-bred Feroce in Saturday’s Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
Savaglee Ready to Take on Older Rivals
Savaglee has conquered all before him at age-group level in New Zealand, and on Saturday, the star colt will take on the older horses in a star-studded edition of the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).
No Rush with Savaglee
Star colt Savaglee is likely to be a notable absentee from all spring feature events.