BY SHAYNE O'CASS
Taken from page 49 "THE SPORTSMAN" Friday 15 June 2012.
AUSTRALIA’S leading syndicator Dean Watt has revealed how close classic sire and designated Zabeel heir Savabeel was to remaining in Australia after his illustrious racing career came to an end.
Savabeel was purchased for $400,000 at the 2003 Magic Millions Yearlings Sale on the Gold Coast from Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud draft.
Australia’s leading syndicator Dean Watt has an eye for talent
The horse went on to become a dual Group 1 winner, including the 2006 Cox Plate, and establish himself as one of the most sought-after stallion prospects on both sides of the Tasman.
Days after Savabeel sired his latest Derby hero, Brambles, Watt told again of the frantic last days to secure Zabeel's handsome son.
Savabeel has become one of the sought-after stallion prospects on both sides of the Tasman.
“People may not remember that Savabeel was a ‘done deal’ and it was only at the 11th hour that the horse went to Waikato (Stud),” Watt said.
“He was almost on the float to Widden."
Savabeel, seen here as a yearling, almost ended up at Widden Stud
“Waikato were even lucky that they got Savabeel on the basis that Widden were all but ready to sign the contract – bottom line, Waikato offered more money.”
Watt is convinced Savabeel’s success is aided by the fact his bloodlines suited the NZ mare population and he will, in time, fill a vital role on the nation’s roster.
“Zabeel was still strutting his stuff at the time but they needed a good alternative for him because they could see going forward there was a finite date on Zabeel,” Watt said.
“And they needed to find a good replacement for him and there wasn’t one at that stage until Savabeel came about.”
History shows Savabeel has, to a point, done everything to suggest he is indeed the horse to carry on the Sir Tristram/Zabeel line long into the future.
Savabeel, seen here winning the 2006 Cox Plate, was a champion on the track and is now really doing the job at stud
And while Savabeel’s ascendancy is a source of great pride and satisfaction for Watt, he said the colt’s journey from the Gold Coast to Waikato has been a team effort.
“A lot of credit has to go to Max Whitby who backed the horse with his pocket and bought him some lovely broodmares and bred them through and raced them,” Watt told Sportsman.
“Max is one of the syndicate members who raced Savabeel and he deserves full credit for his loyalty to the stallion and that helps make a stallion.”
Savabeel’s excellence highlights Watt’s supreme eye for a racehorse-come stallion; the son of Zabeel joins previous Dynamic colt/stallion purchases Reward For Effort and Bradbury’s Luck, whose Group 1 winning son Luckygray took out last Saturday’s Group 3 Belmont Sprint in Perth.