Blue Blood Savabeel Mare Gets 2nd Group One

Breednet - Saturday March 8

Eight weeks after celebrating what they thought was a career pinnacle in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham, the connections of blue-blooded mare Provence were treated to something even more special in Saturday’s Gr.1 HKJC World Pool New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie.

Provence winning Saturday's Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The fillies and mares’ feature carried a stake of $600,000 and was one of four Group Ones on a star-studded Champions Day card. Provence earned her time in the spotlight with a stunning $30 upset over the $1.30 favourite, New Zealand’s highest-rated mare Legarto.

“This is a great feeling,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “Throughout the last few weeks and months, I just couldn’t wait to get to this day. It’s the greatest day ever and so awesome for New Zealand racing. You just come into it hoping that your horses can step up, and this mare has done that.”

Provence earned her first Group One victory in the Thorndon Mile on January 11. She dug deep all the way down the long Trentham straight that day and edged out Qali Al Farrasha, Town Cryer and Aegon in a desperately close finish.

In her only start since then, Provence was badly blocked in the straight in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) at Matamata on February 15. She saw daylight very late in the piece, making up some late ground to get within three and a half lengths of Legarto. When they met again in Saturday’s Breeders’ Stakes, the result was very different.

Legarto had been a victim of circumstances in her two previous shock Ellerslie defeats, finishing strongly from too far back to run second in last year’s Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m). This time rider Ryan Elliot had her well within striking distance and she ranged up alongside the leaders at the top of the straight.

But this time Provence surged out of the pack and soon drew up on Legarto’s outside, with a strong-finishing Jaarffi flashing through closer to the inside.

Provence and Jaarffi swallowed up Legarto with about 70m remaining, fighting a head-bobbing finish that Provence won by a short head. Legarto was another half-length away in third.

It was a third consecutive win in the Breeders’ Stakes for jockey Sam Spratt, who guided Belclare to back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2024.

“We had a bad draw to start with, so we were a bit disheartened coming into this race,” she said. “But we ended up actually getting a beautiful trip, just in midfield and one off.

“As soon as she got out, she’s just so tough. We went past Legarto, and I thought, ‘If we’ve managed to get past her, we must be a chance here.’ But then Warren (Kennedy, riding Jaarffi) bombed me at the end and he actually said ‘I got you.’ So I went from being excited to ‘aw’. But she’s just so tough.

Advertisement

“Stephen has nailed it with this mare. She’s hit the mark when it matters in two Group One races. She went pretty well at Matamata last time too, pretty much just cantering to the line.”

Provence has now had 16 starts for six wins, a placing and $817,115 in stakes. The five-year-old Savabeel mare was bred by Tony Rider, who shares ownership with the Social Racing Ellerslie Winners’ Circle Syndicate.

Provence is a full-sister to Damask Rose, who won the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) over the same course and distance in January.

“We’ve had so many seconds this season, and when they hit the line there, I thought that was going to be another second placing in the books,” Marsh said. “But then the photo popped up on the screen and it was just the best feeling.

“You’d love to have a few more like this mare in your stable. She’s so tough and has an amazing will to win. She has now won two Group One races this season and she’s a beautifully bred Savabeel mare, so it couldn’t be any better than that. It’s great for Tony Rider, for Brent and Wendy Cooper and a massive syndicate of owners with Social Racing.”

By Richard Edmunds
LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Yearlings from Provence's family currently entered for sales include:

Adelaide Yearling Sale: Lot 167 by All Too Hard - Sullivan Bloodstock

Australian Easter Yearling Sale: Lot 209 by I Am Invincible - Sledmere Stud

March Yearling Sale: Lot 253 by Sun City - Lucas Bloodstock

Advertisment

Race Result - HKJC World Pool NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes Gr1 1600m

Ellerslie Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:36.23
1
Provence
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Sombreuil (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S C Spratt 57
2
0.1
Jaarffi
- 5m Iffraaj (GB) x Pride Of Tralee (NZ) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: W B Kennedy 57
3
0.6
Legarto
- 5m Proisir (AUS) x Geordie Girl (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: K & B Kelso Rdr: R T Elliot 57
NZB Karaka Book 2 $90,000
Seller: Highline Thoroughbreds
Buyer: Ancroft Stud
4
0.9
Konasana
- 4m Dundeel (NZ) x Posing (USA) (Medicean (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Joe Doyle 57
5
1
Campionessa
- 7m Contributer (IRE) x Bella Carolina (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: M J Dee 57
6
1.8
Acquarello
- 5m Written Tycoon (AUS) x River Pebbles (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: M J Mc Nab 57
7
2.5
Town Cryer
- 7m Tavistock (NZ) x The Speaker (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: R J Bergerson Rdr: C J Grylls 57
8
3
Kelly Coe
- 7m Proisir (AUS) x Floridita (AUS) (Fasliyev (USA))
Tnr: L O'sullivan & A Scott Rdr: M Hashizume 57
9
3.3
Belclare
- 7m Per Incanto (USA) x Miss Rhythmic (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: W F Pinn 57
10
4.3
Merchant Queen
- 4m Merchant Navy (AUS) x O'reilly Cyrus (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: G Rooke 57
11
4.3
Imprevu
- 6m Wrote (IRE) x Imprint (NZ) (Sufficient (NZ))
Tnr: Ms J Dalley Rdr: Tayla Mitchell 57
12
4.8
Moving Melody
- 4m Deep Field (AUS) x Kibira (FR) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 57
13
6.8
Fall For Cindy
- 5m Sacred Falls (NZ) x Cindy Cee (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Ms P Gerard Rdr: K A Myers 57
More Reading...
Smart Win for Damask Rose Sister
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh light heartedly suggested he was still waiting for his Christmas presents prior to racing commencing at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, but didn’t take long to fill his stocking with Provence taking out the Westbury Stud Royal Descent Stakes (1400m).
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 6
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Records Tumble at Huge Australian Weanling Sale
The most successful Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in history concluded at Riverside today with a record individual top price of $775,000 paid for a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), a record gross and record average.
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.
One to Watch – Curragh
He’s a Coolmore homebred blueblood, but sired by Darley’s champion stallion Dubawi and Officer opened his stakes account overnight at The Curragh winning the Listed Tetrarch Stakes (1m).
$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.
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.
35th G1 Winner for Savabeel - Provence wins Thorndon Mile
A coming-of-age performance by Provence in the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) capped a feature treble at Trentham on Saturday for leading jockey Sam Spratt.
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.
Widden Stud Sell $775,000 Too Darn Hot Colt
Widely tipped as a likely sale-topper at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, the Widden Stud consigned Too Darn Hot (GB) colt from Enbihaar did not disappoint when fetching $775,000.