Consolation for Savabeel's The Chosen One in Packer Plate

Mark Smith - Saturday April 20

The Dennis brothers, Tony, Joe, Ray and Martin, were honoured with the 2016 Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Racing Award and the leading South Island breeders are enjoying the journey their homebred The Chosen One is taking them.

After winning the Group III Manawatu Classic (2000m) at Awapuni, the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained colt crossed the Tasman to finish a luckless fourth in the Group1 ATC Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 6.

Advertisement

Dropped back to 2000m for Saturday's $160,000 Group III Frank Packer Plate at Randwick, the son of Savabeel was given his chance to display a superior turn of foot under Blake Shinn to defeat Dealmaker (Dundeel) by one and a half lengths with Purple Sector (Pins) a short-neck back in third. (image Steve Hart).


"I thought he was the run of the race in the Derby and was surprised what he was paying today", Forsman said.

"He has been up a long time but he still maturing. He could go to Brisbane but I don't think it would be the right thing to do.

"That would be tempting but hopefully, he's got bigger fish to fry in the Spring. You can't do it everywhere.

"He's a quality bred colt and it was great to see him get his just deserts today."

Shinn also said the win was well-deserved.

"The Derby was a little bit frustrating," he said.

"We were the victim of a wide barrier, we had to take him back. I thought his run was arguably the best run in the race and he brought that form here today. We made another searching run on him but we were coming back 400m in trip so I was mindful of that. He did the job nicely, he is a lovely horse."

The Dennis brother formed a syndicate to race The Chosen One after the son of Savabeel failed to make his $150,000 reserve at the 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka.

He comes from the famed "The" family, which is synonymous with the Dennis family.

They raced The Chosen One's granddam The Jewel (O'Reilly) who won the 2002 Group1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).

The Jewel is the dam of the multiple Group III winner The Diamond One (Tale Of The Cat) and three stakes-placed performers including the Chosen One's dam The Glitzy One (Flying Spur) who won eight races from 1400 metres to 2500 metres and finished second in a Group III.

At this year's NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Gary Moore Racing / Glenvallen Investments paid $150,000 for The Glitzy One's Iffraaj colt than was consigned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds.

Tragically, he is the final foal of The Glitzy One who was just ten-years-old when she died.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Probabeel Shows her Class
Superstar three-year-old Probabeel proved a class above her age-group rivals when she made a winning start to her summer campaign over 1400m at Awapuni on Saturday.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Mo'Unga Looking to Bounce Back
Trainer Annabel Neasham is looking forward to stepping out Group One winner Mo’unga in the Gr.2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, where she is expecting to see an improved run from the entire.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.