Savabeel's The Chosen One Secures Caulfield Cup Start

Mark Smith - Sunday October 13

New Zealand stayer The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) has earned a ticket into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) with a hard-fought victory in Saturday's Group II Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).

As the winner of Saturday's 2400m handicap, The Chosen One gains a ballot exemption into next week's A$5 million Caulfield Cup.

Advertisement

Backed from $9 to $6.50, The Chosen One scored a half-length win under Damian Lane from last year's Melbourne Cup placegetter Prince Of Arran (Shirocco) with Sully (NZ) (Reliable Man) three lengths away third. (image Grant Courtney )


The Chosen One had his price slashed for next week's Cup from $101 to $11 and can't be penalised for the win.

Murray Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman, is chasing a second Caulfield Cup having won the race in 2015 with Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor).

"Mongolian Khan did everything right, he was an experienced horse," Baker said.

"He'd won two Derbys, he was pretty strong. This guy is hopefully on the way up."

Baker said it was important to see The Chosen One back in form after producing a disappointing performance in the weight-for-age Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 29.

He said dropping back to handicap conditions suited the four-year-old.

"The speed was on and he saw the trip out which was the main thing and we go on to the Caulfield Cup now, I think."

Lane switches to Japanese stayer Mer De Glance (Rulership) but said The Chosen One, with his light weight of 52kg, was a contender in next week's race.

Bred by Tony, Joe, Ray and Martin Dennis, The Chosen One is a son of Savabeel and the Group Three-placed Flying Spur mare The Glitzy One, who won eight races from 1400m to 2500m.

It is a family The Dennis Brothers have cultivated over generations, with the grand dam the dual Group One winner The Jewel (NZ) (O'Reilly).

"It's the first time we've put a syndicate of our own together," Tony Dennis said. "We usually just race them ourselves.

"We tried to sell him at Karaka as a yearling and we put a $150,000 reserve on him, but he got to $130,000.

"Later Tony Rider suggested we syndicate him. He took 10 percent straight away and it went from there.

"I asked Murray Baker whether he'd train him and he said he'd love to, after having trained The Phantom from the same family all those years ago."

Under the guidance of Baker, The Phantom's (NZ) (Noble Bijou) performances included a win in the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes and a second in the 1990 Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

"The syndicate just went from there," Dennis said. "Our family has ended up with 40 percent and the rest is divided up with friends.

"I'm really enjoying watching the fun the syndicate is having with him."

The syndicate includes Janine Dunlop, who regularly prepares the Dennis brothers horses for the National Yearling Sales at Karaka under her Phoenix Park banner.

AAP - Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk


Advertisment
More Reading...
Sir Delius Delivers G1 Turnbull Stakes Win
Adding Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 VRC Turnbull Stakes (2000m) to his Group 1 MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) victory last start, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Sir Delius further enhanced his outstanding reputation ahead of an assault on the WS Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Pedigree Watch – Juvenile Stakes-Winners
Three new season juvenile stakes races on Saturday produced a $1million yearling purchase that gave Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside the perfect start to his stud career, a pinhook winner turned stakes-winner and a colt foaled in Australia with a Kiwi pedigree.
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.
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.
War Machine Stakes Everest Claim - G2 Gilgai
David Hayes has a New Zealand-bred superstar heading into the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in two weeks, where his sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes might line up against him with a Kiwi-bred Group One winner of their own.
Probabeel Chasing Karaka Million History
High-class filly Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) will shoot for a slice of history at the Karaka Million twilight race meeting at Ellerslie on January 25.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sensational Seven - Autumn Glow Remains Unbeaten With G1 Epsom Victory
Chasing her first Group 1 victory and in the process attempting to remain unbeaten, outstanding 4yo mare Autumn Glow did all that and more, jumping from the outside barrier to give Chris Waller his sixth victory in the $1.5m Group 1 ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
So You Think Filly Wins G2 Edward Manifold
Danny O’Brien believes he has the Group I VRC Oaks in his sights with So You Think filly Getta Good Feeling breaking her maiden in the best way possible with a last stride win in the Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Briasa Wins $1million G2 Premiere Stakes- Everest Next
Twin Hills Stud’s Smart Missile will have a runner in the $20million The Everest and his explosive grey sprinter Briasa will be going into the race in top form following an exciting win at Randwick on Saturday in  the $1million Group I ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m).