Savabeel Filly Damask Rose on Target for Rich Summer Races

Media Release - Saturday December 14

Te Akau Racing resisted the temptation of a big spring campaign with promising filly Damask Rose, and their patience could be rewarded in a pair of seven-figure races at Ellerslie later in the season.

The lightly raced daughter of Savabeel made her first raceday appearance since September in Saturday’s Wentwood Grange 3YO (1200m), where she lived up to her $1.80 favouritism with an effortless win.

Damask Rose winning the Wentwood Grange 3YO (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

It was the second victory of a four-start career for Damask Rose, who won on debut at New Plymouth in late December of last year before finishing second to Velocious in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie. In her only other start, she ran an eye-catching third behind quality fillies Alabama Lass and Captured By Love in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings on September 7.

The $550,000 Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton was an appealing spring target for a filly who had performed so strongly in her three-year-old debut, but trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson decided to play a longer game. They still won the 1000 Guineas with Captured By Love, and now the summer might be Damask Rose’s time to shine.

“We resisted the temptation of going to Riccarton with this filly,” Walker said on Saturday. “We’re working our way backwards from the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the NZB Kiwi (1500m).

“We just thought we’d give Riccarton a miss, and that would give her the best chance of getting to those two big races in Auckland. They can’t go to every dance. I think we’ve done the right thing.

“She had a few weeks out at the farm after the Gold Trail, where she put on some good condition and has come back looking super.

“She’s a really nice filly. She could potentially end up being pretty good, I think. Her next start will be in the Auckland Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.”

Ridden by Opie Bosson with a testing 59kg topweight, Damask Rose took up a comfortable position in fourth as her stablemate Maracatu set an even tempo. Bosson began to urge Damask Rose along just before the home turn, and she clicked into gear in the straight and soon strode to the front.

Damask Rose cruised away from a tiring Maracatu and opened up a big lead, ultimately winning by a length and three-quarters over the strong-finishing Sought After.

Advertisement

“She gave me a great feel,” Bosson said. “I had her off the nickel for a fair bit of the race, but she’s quite a laid-back type of horse.

“She feels like she’s back, big time. The further she goes, the better she’ll be. I think she has a chance to go on and win races like the Karaka Millions and the new slot race.”

The TAB reacted to Saturday’s win by cutting Damask Rose from $8 into $4 for the Karaka Millions 3YO at Ellerslie on January 25. She now also holds a prominent position at $10 in the market for the NZB Kiwi on March 8, for which Te Akau Racing owns a slot.

This three-year-old race on Waikato Cup Day at Te Rapa is a proven springboard to better things for Te Akau Racing. Quintessa placed in the race last year and went on to win the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m), while the stable has previously won this event with subsequent Group Two winners Wild Night and Brando.

Damask Rose was bred by Tony Rider, who offered her under his Milan Park banner in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. David Ellis secured the well-related filly for $200,000.

“I’d like to congratulate everyone for the patience they’ve shown with this filly,” Ellis said. “We deliberately turned her out for good spell after racing earlier in the season, because our goal was to have her ready for top races after New Year’s Day, and after seeing her win like that, we feel that we’re on target.

“It was her first start for some time, so to win like that was really impressive. Congratulations to Mark and Sam and all the staff that look after her for the way they’ve prepared her.”

Runner-up Sought After, who is locked in as Waikato Stud’s representative for the NZB Kiwi, lost no admirers with his performance on Saturday. He settled in a clear last after a slow start, but made up plenty of ground in the final 200m. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - Wentwood Grange 3yo 1200m

Te Rapa Track: Good(4) Time: 1:10.46
1
Damask Rose
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Sombreuil (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: O P Bosson 59
NZB Karaka Book 1 $200,000
Seller: Milan Park
Buyer: Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ)
2
1.8
Sought After
- 3g Tivaci (AUS) x Popular (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: L O'sullivan & A Scott Rdr: M Hashizume 57
NZB Karaka Book 1 $0
Seller: Waikato Stud Ltd
Buyer: Withdrawn
3
2.5
Tycoon Prince
- 3g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Vanity Queen (GB) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: R T Elliot 57
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Cambridge Stud, Cambridge, NZ
Buyer: Withdrawn
4
3.5
Bellarista
- 3f Belardo (IRE) x Frappuccino (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 55
5
4.5
Maracatu
- 3g Ardrossan (AUS) x Cortado (NZ) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: W F Pinn 57.5
6
5.8
I'm All In
- 3c Zoustar (AUS) x Fuld's Bet (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: W B Kennedy 59
7
25.2
Laser Beam
- 3c Complacent (AUS) x Legsalicious (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: L Te Keeti Rdr: L Sutherland 53
More Reading...
One to Watch – Kembla
Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Nepotism is not the only talented two year-old winner by Brutal this season that was bred and sold by Gilgai Farm.
Damask Rose Set to Bloom in $3.5million Kiwi
Talented filly Damask Rose is set to bloom once more when she heads to Ellerslie next week to contest the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) after winning her 1100m trial at Taupo on Wednesday.
Westbury Stud Announce 2025 Fees
Westbury Stud is pleased to announce the 2025 service fees for its high performing stallion roster, providing breeders with an accessible source of proven bloodlines at excellent value.
100th National Yearling Sale to Debut New Format
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th anniversary of the National Yearling Sales in New Zealand, a significant milestone to celebrate.
Is Damask Rose the Next Star Filly for Savabeel?
High-class three-year-old Damask Rose has powered her way to the top of the markets for New Zealand’s biggest pots of gold.
French Derby Contender for Godolphin
The Godolphin winning run continued in France overnight with a French Derby contender emerging in the shape of progressive Lope de Vega colt Cualificar, who is out of Fastnet Rock’s Group I Epsom Oaks winner Qualify.
Savabeel's Damask Rose Wins Inaugural $3.5mil NZB Kiwi
Te Akau Racing, Blake Shinn and fantastic filly Damask Rose created a piece of New Zealand racing history when they took out the inaugural running of the richest race in the land, the newly minted $3.5 million Listed The NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie.
Te Akau Win Karaka 3YO Million with Damask Rose
Barely fourty minutes after taking their eighth individual Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) contest with La Dorada, the Te Akau Racing team made it back-to-back successes on the night at Ellerslie with favourite Damask Rose scoring a brilliant victory in the Listed TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets New Record at Inglis Weanling Sale
A new record price for the Australian Weanling Sale was set at Riverside today when a Stay Inside x Sheidel filly offered by Noorilim Park sold for $650,000.
First Season Highlights – These Guys Made an Impression
The Inglis Australian Weanling Sale gave buyers the opportunity to have a first look at the progeny of a new crop of  first season sires and the big banger of the group duly produced the highest priced baby from this cohort of sires.