Savabeel's Top Of The Range Powers To Victory in Bendigo Cup

Mark Smith - Wednesday October 30

A last start second to Wolfe (JPN) in the Group III Coongy Cup at Caulfield, Top Of The Range benefitted from an inspired ride by William Pike to capture Wednesday’s Group III Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m).

Second last on the home turn, Pike weaved a passage between runners to nail Brimham Rocks (GB) (Fastnet Rock) by a long-head with the winner’s stablemate Hang Man (IRE) (Windsor Knot) a length back in third.

In earning his first stakes win, the 6yo son of Savabeel advances his record to 5 wins, 4 seconds and 3 thirds from 27 starts with earnings of $546,350.

“Both of my horses were ridden terrifically. Top Of The Range just stays the trip a little bit better than Hang Man,” winning trainer Mike Moroney said.

“He’s come of age. He’s had heart fibrillation and a lot has gone wrong through his career, so it’s never been easy for him but he has really matured and he is good to deal with now.

“I’m not sure where he goes next. We will wait and see how he pulls up.

For the Western Australian legend William Pike, it broke a 12-year drought in Victoria.

Advertisement

"I had to come back and double check my number was up there," Pike joked after the race. I've run a lot of close seconds and been very much the bridesmaid on my visits and hopefully I can keep the form going through the carnival," Pike told racing.com.

Bred by the Bax family, Top of the Range was purchased by bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne for $250,000 out of Blandford Lodge’s 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling draft.

A three-quarter brother to the Group 1 VRC Oaks third Savsbelle and half-brother to the talented Hong Kong performer Clement Legend (Ocean Park), Top Of The Range is the best of three winners out of the winning Montjeu mare Spiriting who is a half-sister to Group III STC Kingston Town winner Just Polite (Dehere) who is the dam of Group 1 Auckland Cup winner Ladies First (Dylan Thomas).

 Blandford Lodge consigned a full sister to Top Of The Range to the 2019 NZB Karaka Book 1 where she was knocked down to Moody Racing for $240,000.

After slipping to Savabeel in 2017, Spriting was covered by Almanzor (FR) last spring.

Top Of The Range becomes the 92nd stakes-winner for Waikato Stud’s flagship stallion Savabeel.

Advertisment

Race Result - Jayco Bendigo Cup Gr3 2400m

Bendigo Track: Good(3) Time: 2:27.41
1
Top Of The Range
- 6g Savabeel (AUS) x Spiriting (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: W Pike 54
2
0.2
Brimham Rocks
- 6g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Colima (IRE) (Authorized (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M J Walker 56.5
Fastnet Rock
3
1.2
Hang Man
- 6g Windsor Knot (IRE) x Halliard (GB) (Halling (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: J Winks 54
4
2.2
Captain Cook
- 7g Dubawi (IRE) x Canda (USA) (Storm Cat (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Ms L J Meech 56
5
2.3
Bondeiger
- 8h War Pass (USA) x Debutante Robe (JPN) (Admire Vega (JPN))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: D Dunn 54
6
2.4
Rupture
- 6g Street Boss (USA) x Dara Seans (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: Dean Holland 54
7
2.9
Sully
- 5g Reliable Man (GB) x Lady Winifred (NZ) (Casual Lies (USA))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: B Prebble 54.5
8
4.4
Super Girl
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Hailbella (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: Joshua Julius Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
9
4.5
Sin To Win
- 7g Sir Percy (GB) x Ledahead (NZ) (Jugalug (NZ))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: L Nolen 54.5
10
5.0
Creedence
- 5g Helmet (AUS) x Boracay (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
11
8.5
Angel Of Truth
- 4g Animal Kingdom (USA) x Scarletini (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: Ms G Markwell Rdr: L Currie 58
12
9.7
Single Handed
- 5g Ambidexter (AUS) x Miss Eclipse (AUS) (El Moxie (USA))
Tnr: Nick Smart Rdr: Declan Bates 54
13
14.2
Raheen House
- 6g Sea The Stars (IRE) x Jumooh (GB) (Monsun (GER))
Tnr: W J Haggas Rdr: B Avdulla 58
14
14.6
Volkstok'n'barrell
- 8g Tavistock (NZ) x Volkster (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Oliver 56
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Friday August 1
Here is the full list of 35 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Hat-Trick for Progressive Pierro
Richard and Will Freedman probably have more talented horses in the stable than Pierro gelding Cold Brew, but few have the consistency of this four year-old who landed a winning hat-trick at Rosehill on Saturday.
Impressive New Winner at Goodwood for St Mark’s Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had a number of high profile yearlings sold at the European sales last year and one of them was a filly from Angelic Light that made 600,000 guineas at Tattersalls October Book 2.
Shooting to Win Relocating to Yarradale Stud
Yarradale Stud has purchased Group 1 racehorse and sire Shooting To Win to cover his first book at its Gidgegannup property this season.
Sliding Doors Moment Delivers Feel Good Winner at Rosehill
Two fillies were born at Yulong in 2021 sired by Alabama Express from imported North American daughters of Street Cry, one of them is triple Group I winner Treasurethe Moment and the other is the feel good winner of the day at Rosehill on Saturday.
Kiwi Bred Keeps Winners Coming for Payne Stable
The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Bold Soul has been a consistent performer right through the winter months and notched another win at Flemington when prevailing in the VRC Membership Renewals Open (2530m) on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 2
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
The Novelist Returns to Form
The very first stakes-winner for his sire Written By when winning the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes in December 2022, The Novelist made light of the heavy 10 track at Rosehill on Saturday to claim another victory.
King of Roseau Wins G3 Aurie’s Star
Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Inglis Digital Bargain Buys Deliver Kosciuszko Dreamers
Sunshine Law was not the only Inglis Digital success story to come out of the Rosehill meeting on Saturday with two contenders for this year’s $2million Kosciuszko also giving connections cause to dream big and one of them is an unbeaten mare with a Black Type pedigree.