Savabeel’s stunning daughter
Savaria headlined an outstanding day for the
Waikato Stud based sire, when she became his latest
Group One winner.
The son of
Zabeel extended his lead in the
New Zealand sires’ premiership when
Savaria triumphed in the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham.
Savaria’s victory in the
Gr 3 Lowland Stakes earned her Oaks favouritism and she justified her support in style.
Trained by
Roydon Bergerson and expertly ridden by
Hayden Tinsley, the filly landed the classic and a betting coup for owners Des and Kay Fleming.
“Des has slaughtered the bookmakers and got more than the winning stake off the TAB,” a jubilant and relieved Bergerson said. “He told me last Monday so there was no pressure!”
The Flemings have been breeding thoroughbreds for more than three decades, but changed tack when they went to Karaka in 2013 and secured Savaria for $110,000.
“She’s a damn good filly and from day one I said to Des that she was something special,” Bergerson said. “She’s proved that today – she’s one out of the box.”
Savaria settled midfield on the fence and Tinsley kept his cool when hemmed in at the top of the straight.
A gap presented itself 200 metres from home between a weakening Gin Swing and Charmont and horse and rider powered through to Group One glory.
“I picked her as my Oaks ride after her maiden win,” Tinsley said. “She’s a beautiful filly, she’s easy to ride and just goes to sleep.”
Savabeel also made his presence felt at
Flemington where his unbeaten daughter Pasadena Girl won the Gr 3 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.
Trainer Peter Moody noted most of the stallion’s progeny were rarely as precocious as his charge. "You would think it augurs for a very good future,” he said. “She’s doing what she shouldn’t be doing on pedigree, but she’s coping with it well and enjoying her racing so happy days.”
As for a trip to Sydney for the carnival, the trainer is leaving that to his filly to determine.
The Awapuni trainer will monitor his
Gr.1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks winner over the next few days before wholly committing to the Australian venture.
“She has come through the race really well and we will make up our minds next Monday whether she will go to the ATC Oaks or not,” Bergerson said.
“We’ll see how well she bounces back during the week, although at this stage I’m thinking we might as well carry on and have a go and then give her a good spell after that.”
The $A1 million Gr.1 ATC Oaks will be run on April 11 at Randwick where Savaria would be bidding for a third New Zealand-trained victory in the classic in the last six years.
Rising Romance was successful 12 months’ ago for Donna Logan and Daffodil claimed top honours in 2009 for Kevin Gray.
Bergerson has already discounted the Queensland winter carnival as it would be too disruptive to Savaria’s spring preparation.
“It’s too hard to bring them back up again after Brisbane,” he said.
The Savabeel filly’s win at Trentham provided Bergerson with his second Group One title after producing longshot Distill to upset in the 2011 Levin Classic.
“This is my best win though – she’s a star with such a good turn of foot,” Bergerson said. “I watched the race from the stands and I lost her coming to the corner, but once she was in the clear she just found another gear.”
For Savaria’s owners Des and Kay Fleming it was their first Group One success after a thoroughbred involvement spanning 30 years.
In the month of March 2015 SAVABEEL has sired the following Stakes Winners:
14/03/2015
Pasadena Girl (NZ)
2yo f Ex Nina From Pasadena (AUS) by Redoute's Choice = 1st Thoroughbred Breeders S., Gr.3 1200m
Savaria (NZ)
3yo f Ex Amathea (NZ) by O'Reilly = 1st New Zealand Oaks, Gr.1 2400m
07/03/2015
Adorabeel (NZ)
5yo m Ex Plaza Doree (Fr) by Saumarez = 1st Aspiration H., Gr.3 1600m
04/03/2015
Diademe (NZ)
6yo m Ex Bling (NZ) by O'Reilly = 1st Westbury Classic, Gr.3 1400m
Savaria (NZ)
3yo f Ex Amathea (NZ) by O'Reilly = 1st Lowland S., Gr.3 2100m
21/02/2015
Pasadena Girl (NZ)
2yo f Ex Nina From Pasadena (AUS) by Redoute's Choice = 1st Talindert S., L 1100m
