Savabeel Mare Wins G2 Travis

Media Release - Saturday April 27

Consistent mare Supera capped an outstanding season's work when she dominated her rivals in the closing stages when taking out the Group II Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.

Supera - Trish DunnellThe Savabeel four-year-old has proven a model of consistency throughout her current campaign that commenced back in October with a fresh-up victory over 1400m at Te Aroha.

Patience has been the keyword for trainers Ken Kelso, wife Bev and Mark Donoghue as they slowly made their way through the grades with the Sir Peter Vela-owned mare.

Ken Kelso had indicated he felt Supera would be at her best when tried over a middle-distance after she stormed home to be beaten by just a long head behind Nicoletta when finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha at her last start.

That opportunity presented itself on Saturday where rider Michael Coleman displayed a steely nerve to settle Supera well off the pace before asking her to sustain a powerful finishing burst that carried her to an imposing two-length victory over Awapuni visitor Jessiegee.

"I thought she was further back than what we initially thought she would be, but she was nice and relaxed and lobbing along," Ken Kelso said.

"There was a bit of speed in the race, so we always thought if she was our best, she would get over the top of them.

"She's very special."

Kelso indicated this would be the last run for Supera before she heads for a break with bigger things expected from her in the spring.

Advertisement

"She's going to go out now," he said.

"She's come a long way, so she can have a nice break.

"She won't be out too long and we'll bring her back and set her for something through the spring.

"We've had a lot of good mares over the years and she is right up there with them."

Bred by Sir Peter Vela's Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd, Supera is the daughter of unraced Van Nistelrooy mare, Sopra Tutto who is the daughter of his dual Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner, Ethereal.

She is the younger half-sister to multiple Group Three winner and Group One placed mare, Eleonora along with handy stayer Sopraffina. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
New Cup Goal for Wolfgang
It may not be the Cup target they were aiming for, but Wolfgang put himself firmly into Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) calculations following his victory in the SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Prelude (2400m) at Te Rapa on Monday.
Savabeel Blueblood Wins G3 Desert Gold
A copybook ride by Opie Bosson paved the way for promising filly Showbeel to add a valuable black type success to her career record when she took out the first feature race at Trentham on Saturday, the Group III New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
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.
Savabeel Colt Secures Karaka Million Start
Te Akau Racing’s quest to win the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) for the fourth year in succession was bolstered considerably when Cool Aza Beel ensured his place in the field with a dominant victory at Tauranga on Friday.
Famous Foal with Coolmore Stud Stakes Connections
The Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes this weekend is a race that has developed a deserved reputation as a sire making race and a foal image that arrived to the Breednet Foal Gallery on Monday is a colt with an undeniable connection to this pivotal race for the breeding industry.
First Winner for King of Comedy
Novara Park Stud stallion King Of Comedy (IRE) is on the board as a sire, with his son Sir Ruby becoming his first winner when victorious over 1300m at Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia on Sunday.
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.
First Stakes Win for The Autumn Sun Half-Brother
The Listed Chantilly Grand Prix du Nord (2000m) in France overnight provided a first stakes win for blueblood Dubawi colt Azimpour, the half-brother to Champion Australian 3YO Colt and now G1 sire The Autumn Sun.
Sires With Winners - Monday October 27
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale (November 12 and 13) is online with breeze up video now in place and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.