Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
A coming-of-age performance by Provence (Savabeel) in the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) capped a feature treble at Trentham on Saturday for leading jockey Sam Spratt.
The 40-year-old had previously won the Listed Star Group Wellesley Stakes (1100m) on To Cap It All and the Gr.2 Top Kat Roofing Levin Classic (1400m) with standout three-year-old Savaglee.
Spratt, who also recorded another black-type treble on the first day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton in November, has now ridden 12 stakes winners this season. No other jockey has more than six.
“It’s been a huge day,” the popular jockey said. “Coming into today, I knew I had three decent rides in those big races. It’s great that it all panned out.
“It’s extra special because I was born just a couple of kilometres down the road from here. I think I even went for a bolt around this track on a pony when I was a kid.”
Spratt was carried to Thorndon Mile glory by Provence, who was a maiden winner at Taupo just 12 and a half months earlier on December 30, 2023.
The Savabeel mare went on to test the black-type waters with a second in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham, a sixth in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m), a close 10th in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) and an unlucky last-start fourth in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) on New Year’s Day. On Saturday, the five-year-old announced her arrival on the big stage.
After jumping from the inside gate, Provence and Spratt took up a handy position in fifth behind Town Cryer, Marotiri Molly, Qali Al Farrasha and Kelly Coe.
The 15-horse field had been billed as one of the most even Thorndon line-ups in recent years, and that was how it played out on the track as horses fanned out right across the home straight to stake their claim.
Provence burst into contention 200m from the finish, striding up alongside Qali Al Farrasha, Town Cryer, Marotiri Molly and Kelly Coe in a powerful move.
Qali Al Farrasha fought back superbly along the rail, locking horns with Provence in a desperate battle to the line. Spratt got the very best out of Provence, who just edged out Qali Al Farrasha by a half-head. Town Cryer was another neck way in third, with a long head to Aegon and a nose to dead-heaters Malt Time and Marotiri Molly.
“That was brilliant,” Spratt said. “I was happy with the position we ended up in, and then we got dragged into it beautifully at the right time. I thought she’d win easily when she ranged up alongside them, but had to really fight at the end. She did it really well.”
The Thorndon Mile capped a busy holiday period for Provence, who won the $90,000 Royal Descent Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and backed up for her fourth placing in the Rich Hill Mile six days later.
“Three runs in three weeks, for a mare to do that shows just how tough she is,” Spratt said.
Provence is trained by Stephen Marsh, whose Cambridge stable also produced the Wellesley winner To Cap It All.
“These Group One wins are why you do it,” Marsh’s stable representative and bloodstock agent Dylan Johnson said.
“She’s a quality mare. I remember Stephen saying to me after a gallop in the early stages of this preparation, ‘She’ll win a Group One this season.’ She’s proved him right. She’s all class.
“She’s continued to come through the grades. She was unlucky in the Rich Hill. She’s just kept progressing and is such a tough, genuine racehorse.
“She’s part-owned by Tony Rider, who also bred her. He puts so much into the industry with Milan Park, and she’s going to make a great addition to his broodmare band in time. And there’s a massive group of owners in the Social Racing group as well. We’re thrilled to get this win for all of those connections.”
Provence has now had 14 starts for five wins, a placing and $470,315 in stakes.
Provence is by champion stallion Savabeel, who also sired Saturday’s Levin Classic hero Savaglee.
The dam of Provence is the winning Flying Spur mare Sombreuil, whose three foals are all winners. That also includes Provence’s full-sister Damask Rose, who has been a multiple stakes placegetter for Te Akau Racing and will represent their slot in the NZB Kiwi (1500m).
