Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Class three-year-old Savaglee (Savabeel) stepped out for the first time since his devastating victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November and absolutely destroyed a small but handy field in Saturday’s Gr.2 Top Kat Roofing Levin Classic (1400m) at Trentham.
Confidently expected to win despite the eight week absence from race day action, the punters elect at $1.60 never looked in danger of defeat once regular pilot Sam Spratt had him away nicely from a wide barrier and trucking along in the trail behind stablemate Suit Yourself.
Spratt had an absolute stranglehold on the son of Savabeel at the 300m and when she released the brakes the showy bay colt eased away to win untouched by two lengths from fellow Waikato visitors Kitty Flash and Tardelli who chased valiantly in the closing stages.
Trainer Pam Gerard had cut a nervous figure before the race as she felt the pressure of public expectations for a victory from her stable star.
“I’m relieved now as that was absolutely amazing,” Gerard said.
“You sort of know what you’ve got and it makes your job harder, but you hope you have done everything you can as he was coming back from a bit of a let-up.
“It’s really cool and I‘m super happy for the Oaks Stud (owner) and for the horse.”
Gerard has a huge autumn campaign planned for the horse and gained reassurance before the race from Spratt who was unconcerned about the challenge they were facing first up.
“Sam said to me Pam don’t worry as he could be last or anywhere and he will still win, as she has that much confidence in him,” she said.
“Obviously it is the feel he gives her although I did tell her to stop talking right away!
“He is a top horse who has his confidence up and that is great.
“We need to get him home now and work out how we progress as colts can get a bit hot and while he is in the zone we will decide where we need to go next.”
Gerard had spoken during the week about the next possible options for the Karaka Yearling Sale graduate which include the lucrative $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) on January 25, and later in March, the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m),
However as a future stallion prospect, Gerard has indicated Savaglee would be more likely to chase valuable black-type, with the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 8 on the radar.
Spratt oozed confidence as she guided the horse to the start and afterwards was full of praise for him.
“I got a perfect run but I wasn’t worried as I had said to Pam even if we are last he will be able to smoke past them,” she said.
“I was pretty much winging it and he is just getting better and better with every start and is a mean racehorse now.
“As a stallion prospect Group One status is what is best for him and right now he is right up there on how I rate them.”
Savaglee, who was a $400,000 yearling purchase at Karaka for owners The Oaks Stud from the draft of breeders Waikato Stud, has now had 13 starts for seven wins, two placings and $974,975 in stakes.
