Savaglee Ready to Take on Older Rivals

Media Release - Wednesday February 5

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).

In six starts as a three-year-old, Savaglee has won on five occasions, including the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m), Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m), all with considerable ease.

Savaglee will contest the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.   Photo: Race Images South

His owners The Oaks Stud, and Pam Gerard, who trains the gelding at Matamata, resisted the temptation of a $1.5 million prize on Karaka Millions Night in favour of the $500,000 feature, which gives a more favourable lead-in to a tilt at the A$1 million Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 1.

The son of Savabeel had his final public appearance in an exhibition gallop last Friday at Te Rapa, where he will return this weekend to take on the likes of Grail Seeker and Australian raiders Busustow and Here To Shock.

“It was a nice day out and a bit of a hit out for him, he’s always pretty casual and never gives too much away,” Gerard said. “I’m happy with how he’s come away from that.

“He’ll work in the morning and have a swim in the afternoon as usual for the next couple of days, it’s just keeping him ticking over. We’re just aiming to have him bright, healthy and happy.

“He can do whatever he needs to do, he jumps and puts himself in the race, he can be back, forward, it doesn’t matter. He’s very adaptable, nothing needs to change.”

As he has at every start this season, the colt will be ridden by Sam Spratt, and in the early TAB market, he is rated a $3.80 second favourite behind Grail Seeker ($2.30).

Gerard’s stable will see plenty of the Kiwi countryside over the remainder of the week, with Reputation heading to Tauherenikau and Harlech at Wingatui for respective stakes assignments.

On Waitangi Day, Reputation will step out in the Listed NZB Clubs Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) after acquitting herself well against the likes of Snazzytavi and Campionessa in Group Two company in December.

“It’s a tricky little race, it’s a big trip to get down there but it’s a nice chance for her to get some black-type,” Gerard said.

“We’ve asked a lot of her this season, she’s raced well out of her grade and performed very well. This was probably one of the easier options for her, even though she’s had to travel a long way.”

Harlech will take his place in the Listed Nellies Restaurant and Bar Hazlett Stakes (1400m) on Saturday in the deep south after a formidable campaign in Canterbury in the autumn last year, culminating in a win in the Easter Cup (1600m).

Advertisement

“We had a bit of a hiccup before the Matamata Cup, nothing major, but we had to regroup with him,” Gerard said.

“It was hard to find many starts up here in that grade in the open miles, so we’ve sent him down there. He’s been down for about three weeks now, we’re targeting the White Robe (Gr.3, 1600m) on the 1st of March and this is a nice lead-up.

“He’s very well, he looks absolutely fantastic and loves it down there.”

Closer to home on Friday, newcomer Fall For Cindy will make her debut in New Zealand at the Tauranga meeting. A winner of five races in Australia, Fall For Cindy won the Gr.3 Dark Jewel Stakes (1400m) last autumn, but after a quiet spring, owner Garry Chittick opted to bring the daughter of Sacred Falls across the Tasman in search of further black-type.

“I’m still learning a bit about her, she’s very casual and laidback in her work,” Gerard said. “She’s going in without a trial, we had been looking to kick-off in the Lisa Chittick Plate (Listed, 1400m) at Matamata but she’s just caught me by surprise a bit in how laidback she has been.

“When the noms were very light at Tauranga, we thought we’d give her a day out at the races and hopefully that will bring her on a little bit more, rather than just loafing around at home.

“The 1200 could well be a little short and she’s got a bit of weight to carry, but if she can be hitting the line strongly, we’ll be happy with that result.”

The mare will carry 58kg in the EMAC Electrical (1200m) courtesy of Triston Moodley’s two-kilogram claim, while her stablemate Lingjun Xiongfeng also lines up in the race, on an unconventional route to a middle-distance feature.

“He’s another one we put in late, we couldn’t get a rider at 53kg unfortunately at Auckland last week,” Gerard said.

“We are aiming him at the Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) at Matamata Breeders Day, he’s another horse with few races available for him and he needed to do something. With the light noms, we thought we’d pop him in and give him a hit out.

“He loves Tauranga, it’s not ideal going from winning at 1600m back to 1200m and then up to 2000m the next start, so he’s really there for a day out. But we know what he can do, he’s pretty smart when he wants to be.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
One to Watch – Bendigo
A flashy chestnut filly with a bit of the Apache Cat’s about her was an eye-catching five length debut winner at Bendigo on Friday for the Ciaron Maher stable.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Derby
It’s been 15 years since Dariana thumped the colts to win the Queensland Derby (2400m) in 2010 and maybe it’s time for another filly to triumph!
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.
Sires With Winners - Thursday May 29
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Friday May 30
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Savaglee Ready to Pick Up Where He Left Off
Glamour colt Savaglee will commence an exciting summer programme at Trentham on Saturday, taking his place in the Gr.2 Top Kat Roofing Levin Classic (1400m).
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.
Investing in Fillies Can Pay Big Dividends
We saw it earlier this month at Inglis Chairman’s Sale and we saw it again this week, purchasing yearling fillies that can perform to a high level has the potential to yield a big pay day in the sale ring, so let’s take a closer look.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
There were six heats for juveniles at the Randwick trials on Friday and some interesting unraced winners including a $1.45million colt by Extreme Choice and a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly bred to win an Oaks..
Savaglee Trial Impressive
Eight Group One performers were put through their paces in a star-studded 1100m trial before the eight-race twilight card at Matamata on Friday, and it was standout three-year-old Savaglee who came out on top.