Little Fish are Sweet for Godolphin

Mark Smith - Saturday February 22

While Godolphin missed out on the big prize when Hanseatic was edged by Tagaloa in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes they settled for a pair of Group Twos after welcoming back La Trene to the winner’s circle after a year in the wilderness while Savatiano is racing in career-best form.

A 5yo daughter of Street Cry (IRE), Savatiano improved on her third behind White Moss in last year’s Group II Millie Fox Stakes when she left that mare in her wake at Rosehill on Saturday.Savatiano all alone at the finsih of Millie Fox Stakes - image Steve Hart

Making her first start since winning the inaugural $1 million The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle last November, Savatiano showed an elusive Group 1 is within her scope when defeating White Moss (Mossman) by two and three-quarter lengths with Invincible Gem (I Am Invincible) two lengths back in third.

"She's come back in tremendous order. I gave her a click at about the 500 metres and it was the wrong thing to do because she just towed me up behind them," wi8nning rider James McDonald told AAP.

"I thought she'd blow out after looking at her parade. She looked fat and I thought she'd need the run, but she was just way too good.

"She is a genuine Group 1 horse for sure."

That may come as soon as the next start for the James Cummings-trained mare, with the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick on March 7 under consideration.  

Savatiano had a very productive 2019, winning the Group II Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield and Group III Glenlogan Park Stakes at Eagle Farm in addition to the rich The Hunter and was third in the Group 1 Tatt's Tiara.

With her fourth stakes win in the bag, Savatiano advances her overall record to 9 wins, 8 seconds and 3 thirds from 28 starts with earnings of $1,532,160

The daughter of Street Cry (IRE) is a half-sister to the stakes-placed 3yo Lonhro filly Athiri who placed in the Group II Blue Diamond Prelude, Group III Magic Night Stakes and Group III Kindergarten Stakes.

They are out of the winning Redoute’s Choice mare Retsina who is a daughter of the top-class racemare Star Shiraz who was purchased by Darley for $1,125,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale before on-selling her to Aquis Farm for $200,000 ten years later.

Restsina has a yearling colt by Hallowed Crown and a colt foal by Lonhro. 

She was covered by Street Boss (USA) last spring.

Advertisement

Down at Caulfield, La Tene scored a fighting win in the Group II Angus Armanasco Stakes.

It was her first win for the 3yo daughter of Helmet since defeating Dalasan in the Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last March.

With Brad Rawiller in the saddle, La Tene staved off off the fast-finishing Lady Lupino (Akeed Mofeed) by a half head with Lunar Light (Choisir) one and a quarter lengths back in third.La Tene toughs it out - image Grant Courtney

"She didn't quite come up last preparation so we did the right thing and put her away and that patience has been rewarded," Cummings told AAP.

Cummings nominated next months Group II Kewney Stakes at Flemington as an immediate target with the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in May also under consideration.

"She's a three-year-old filly that could be well suited to Adelaide if I can prolong her preparation and at this stage she is showing she is enjoying it," Cummings said.

"She's versatile and she might not prove to get the distance, but one thing she has on her side is toughness."

La Tene advances her record to 3 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from 9 starts with earnings of $364,175.

A half-sister to the Listed ATC Civic Stakes and Listed HRC Rowley Mile winner Gaulois (Street Cry), La Tene is the fourth out of Lonhro's top-class daughter Celts whose four wins included the Group III ATC Birthday Card Stakes and Listed Macquarie Cup.

Celts' dam Dinna Flash (Canny Lad) is a half-sister to the honest sprinter Appoint (Alquoz) whose 11 wins included the Group III VATC Rubiton Stakes.

Celts has a yearling filly by Teofilo (IRE) named Ceilidh and a colt foal by Street Boss (USA).

She was covered by Hallowed Crown last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Millie Fox Stakes Gr2 1300m

Rosehill Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:17.93
1
Savatiano
- 5m Street Cry (IRE) x Retsina (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
2
2.8
White Moss
- 6m Mossman (AUS) x Pay My Bail (NZ) (Justice Prevails (AUS))
Tnr: J C Coyle Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 57
Mossman
3
4.8
Invincible Gem
- 6m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Diamond Day (AUS) (Marwina (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J Bowman 56
I Am Invincible
4
5.1
Irithea
- 6m Snitzel (AUS) x Kirovskaya (AUS) (French Deputy (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Tommy Berry 55
5
5.9
Delectation Girl
- 6m Delegator (GB) x Chushka (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: B Avdulla 54
6
6.0
Miss Fabulass
- 4m Frankel (GB) x Samantha Miss (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday September 22
Here is the full list of 28 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 is now online 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.
One to Watch – Warrnambool
So You Think is the first sire to hit 40 winners for the season and he did it with a three year-old filly that won easily on debut at Warrnambool on Monday in the Kia Ora Stud colours.
Home Affairs 2YOs Shine at Official Sydney Trials
I Am Invincible’s exciting young sire son Home Affairs was the talk of the town after the yearling sales this year when his progeny topped both Magic Millions and Inglis Easter and at Randwick on Monday morning he had two runners at the official 2YO trials and both of them came out winners.
2025 National Thoroughbred Week Launched
National Thoroughbred Week, the newly launched industry initiative designed to bring the public closer to the thoroughbred and our sport, is excited to confirm a truly trans-Tasman exposure, with hosts confirmed across all Australian and New Zealand regions.
Career Best Victory for Wentwood Grange Favourite Yearling
Dean Hawkins admits to shedding a tear or two when With Your Blessing was sold as a yearling.
Breednet Follow the Official Sydney 2YO Trials - 7 – 9
All 2YO heats this morning run at Randwick over 850m with these trials the key factor in deciding fields for the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes in two weeks time.
Kiwi Cup Contender Headed to Australia
Melbourne Cup aspirant Trav secured his plane ticket across the Tasman with a pleasing performance over 2100m at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Tara Talks Racing - Trials and Racing
This week we’re talking trials after an insightful set of official 2YO trials in Sydney, plus some racing and how Fangirl will eventually go to stud with two Group I wins less on her resume than there should be.
Breednet Follow the Official Sydney 2YO Trials - 4-6
All 2YO heats this morning run at Randwick over 850m with these trials the key factor in deciding fields for the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes in two weeks time.