breednet.com.au

Group One Winning Savabeel Mare Retired

Breednet - Tuesday February 18

It was an emotional day at Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stables on Sunday when co-trainer Sam Bergerson farewelled Skew Wiff for the final time following her retirement from racing.

Skew Wiff. Photo: Grant Courtney

Bred and raced by Waikato Stud, the daughter of Savabeel recorded Bergerson’s first Group One victory as a trainer when taking out the 2023 edition of the Tarzino Trophy (1400m), a day that will live long in the memory of the Matamata horseman.

“She holds a really special place in my heart being my first Group One winner,” he said. “She had a few quirky traits which made her a bit different from everyone else. She wasn’t overly big, but she was just so gutsy and was really special.”

Out of stakes performer Starvoia, Skew Wiff recorded four career victories, including on racing’s biggest stage when taking out the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

She was also placed at Group level on six occasions, including the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (2040m), Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m), Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), and Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) on two occasions, and accrued more than $750,000 in prizemoney.

While finishing fourth in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham last month, she failed to fire in her last two outings, including last Saturday’s Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m).

Advertisement

“We would have loved to have won that race for Mark (Chittick, Waikato Stud principal) and the team, but she never came up and we thought her last two runs were a bit disappointing,” Bergerson said.

“She just didn’t come up this time around. We couldn’t fault her at home heading towards Saturday at Matamata. She had lost that zest for racing.

“She has got nothing left to prove, so we are happy to see her go off sound and well.

“It was sad putting her on the float on Sunday, but I am excited for her next chapter of life, and I am sure she is going to be a fantastic broodmare if she leaves the qualities and traits she has herself.”

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Weather Watch for Skew Wiff Ahead of G1 on Saturday
Only one part of Skew Wiff’s build-up to the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday has not gone to plan for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, and it is a factor beyond their control.
Unbeaten Superstar 3YO Wins G2 WA Guineas
It was the biggest win yet in the career of a budding superstar! - Three year old King Of Light continued his blaze of glory across the West Australian turf and made it five wins from five starts when he easily accounted for his rivals in the G2 WA Guineas at Ascot yesterday.
Star Savabeel Mare to Target Summer Riches
In any other year Group One-winning mare Skew Wiff would likely be on her way to the breeding barn, however, with the level of prizemoney now on offer, owner-breeder Mark Chittick of Waikato Stud has decided to continue with her as a racing proposition.
Brave Monarch a Timely Reminder
Brave Smash (Jpn) 3YO Brave Monarch posted his third successive win from just four starts at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday for the Chris and Corey Munce stable offering a timely reminder as to the merits of his sire whose first Yarraman Park conceived offspring will be headed to yearling sales in 2026.
Peters Investments Produce New SW for Maurice
A homebred for Peters Investments, progressive gelding Cosmic Crusader became a new stakes-winner for his sire Maurice (Jpn) when taking out the $125,000 Listed WATC Carbine Club of WA Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Breednet Family Search – Watch Me Rock
When Watch Me Rock scored a brilliant win as favourite in the Group I WATC Railway Stakes at Ascot on Saturday he became the first G1 winner for his sire Awesome Rock and also the first G1 winner in his immediate family which appears twice in upcoming 2026 yearling sales.
Skew Wiff Chasing Back to Back G1
Last year’s Tarzino Trophy Day at Hastings will live long in the memory of Sam Bergerson.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 22
Here is the full list of 129 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
All The Way Win For Jigsaw In $1m Meteorite
Arguably in career best form, the Cindy Alderson trained Jigsaw produced an all-the-way winning performance to capture the $1m Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne on Saturday, giving his sire Manhattan Rain both feature race winners at the meeting.
Favourite Salutes in Railway - First G1 Winner for Awesome Rock
The cream rises to the top, so the saying goes - That was never more true than at Ascot yesterday, when WA’s leading jockey, stable and owner all made their presence felt in no uncertain terms - and there was a nice little twist in the tale!