Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
At the 200–metre mark of Saturday’s Thorndon Mile (Gr 1, 1600m), a blanket covered the first five runners. The winner, Provence (Savabeel), was fifth but had not made her final move, a sprint that saw her level up to Qali Al Farrashah (Almanzor) at the 100 metres. These two fought out the finish, the lead see-sawing during the final strides which favoured Provence in the last stride by a half-head. Most judges viewed the race as an even affair and were proved correct. At the post a length covered the first eight runners.
It was Provence’s maiden stakes success making her the 148th individual stakes winner and 35th Group 1 winner for Savabeel (Zabeel). Her race record is also interesting and should give heart to owners and breeders as her first three runs as a three-year-old gave absolutely no indication of her future.
A sixth, a last and a ninth probably looked somewhat bleak in early 2023 and the filly did not reappear until December, then a four-year-old, taking out a barrier trial win at Te Awamutu, following that up with her maiden win at Taupo on New Year’s eve.
Time is what it took to see what she was made of and soon after she added wins at Te Rapa and Ellerslie. Her six starts at four realised three wins and late in the season she picked up some black-type when finishing strongly for second in the Manawatu Flying Handicap (Listed, 1400m) which was run at Trentham.
This season she has blossomed. Third-up was a solid finish when scoring the Royal Descent Stakes (1400m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie which gave connections a reason to back up six days later and another attempt at stakes class, in the Rich Hill Mile (Gr 2, 1600m). Things didn’t quite go her way in a fourth-placed finish, summed up by the stipe’s report which read: ‘Held up early in the straight having to be checked when improving onto heels near the 250 metres.’
Saturday’s breakthrough stakes success was only her 14th start so she has not been overtaxed but patience has been the key. Trainer Stephen Marsh kept the faith, suggesting to stable representative Dylan Johnson: “She’ll win a Group 1 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,” he said.
Provence was not offered for sale but has plenty to recommend her as she represents a top family. Her dam, Sombreuil (Flying Spur), is three for three regarding winners, all of which are by Savabeel. In 2021 Sombreuil produced Damask Rose, twice a winner and a runner talented enough to run second in last year’s Karaka 2YO Million (RL, 1200m).
Their grandam, Te Akau Rose (Thorn Park), landed the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) and she is the only stakes winner from Counties Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1000m) winner, Straussbridge (Straussbrook).
Straussbridge’s other daughters have maintained the family quality. Group 3–placed Alberton Princess (Golan) is the dam of Doncaster Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) victor Brutal (O’Reilly) who stands at Newgate Farm in New South Wales. Listed–placed Dancing Bridges (Danske) produced Listed winner Testarhythm (Testa Rossa) and her sister Alberton Rose (Danske) is the dam of Group 3 winner Cavalry Rose (Charge Forward).
Straussbridge is one three stakes winners from Alberton Lass (Adios) who placed. Her best foal was Wellington Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) winner Sir Alberton (Red Tempo) whose seven wins included two Listed races. Twice he recorded Group 1 placings featuring a third in the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m).
Alberton Lass’s third stakes winner was sharp two-year-old Alberton Star (Stylish Century), a dual Group winner at that age. One of her successes was the Ellerslie’s Eclipse Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m), the same race that her daughter, Lady Alberton (Golan) also won. Another daughter of Alberton Star was Western Star (High Chaparral), dam of Captain Cook Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Wyndspelle (Iffraaj).
Alberton Lass is a granddaughter of high quality 2&3YO filly Marchere (Copenhagen II), herself a daughter of a half-sister to centenary Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Hi-Jinx (Pride of Kildare). A fourth Group 1 winner, from a completely different branch descending from Marchere is Mackinnon Stakes Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Alcopop (Jeune). In all he scored ten wins, earning $1.6 million. Marchere is his fifth dam. There is plenty of depth to this family.
In an all too familiar scene the great Savabeel sired the winners of the two richest races on the Trentham card. With still many months of the season to go, Kiwi Chronicles is happy to call it now: Savabeel will add New Zealand Sire Premiership number ten this season to his illustrious record.
What to do….
The country’s leading three-year-old Savaglee (Savabeel) not only sealed a great day for his sire, he has presented his connections with something of a dilemma. Where does he go next?
Although fresh, having not run since his decisive New Zealand 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) cakewalk two months ago, Savaglee proved far too good over the 1400 metres (reduced from 1600 metres) of the recently downgraded Levin Classic (Gr 2, 1400m) which still provided a worthwhile stake of $400,000.
If Savaglee were mine I would likely not head to Melbourne for the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m), because against his own age group in New Zealand he seems to have their measure. The Karaka Million 3YO Classic (RL, 1600m) will draw the same competition and that might similarly apply to the rich NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot race, set to be run a week after the Australian Guineas
Being considered is the BCD Group Sprint (Gr 1, 1400m) scheduled for February 8 at Te Rapa, Savaglee would certainly be advantaged weight-wise with the Group 1 being run at weight-for-age. However, that would mean bypassing a potentially large pay day at Ellerslie on January 25, two weeks on from what looked like a walk in the park last Saturday.
If an Australian Group 1 is the goal there is still Sydney where he would be weighted to advantage in the Doncaster Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m). On paper he should get 2000 metres, as his sister-in-blood Orchestral (Savabeel) has done, so the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m), again, against his own age group, is another possibility. As they say, they are only three once.
He has proved that he can run well in the spring and at four there are many opportunities to claim a Melbourne Group 1, something like the Champions Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington. He was bought as a future stallion and if an Australian Group 1 is the goal, there is plenty of time.
Standing on the sidelines versus being an actual owner is not the same. It cannot be easy deciding the best path and moreover, what is best for the horse. On that note, good luck Dick, Rick and Pam.
How did we do?
Sires based in New Zealand were well represented at last week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and several performed above expectations. Given that the NZB Karaka Yearling Sale is less than two weeks away, the Gold Coast sale might provide a clue as to what we might expect.
The Magic Millions average stood at $269,745 – which NZ–based stallions can boast lots that made more than the average?
Leading the list was Cambridge Stud’s first–season sire Sword Of State (Snitzel). This was quite an achievement for the new kid on the block as he had three lots out of six which sold for greater than the average. In his case, well above the average as one sold for $380,000, a second for $375,000 and a third for $340,000.
Three stallions managed two lots to better the sale average – another first-season sire in the shape of Waikato Stud’s Noverre (Savabeel), who had three sell, with two lots fetching more than the average – one at $500,000 and the other making $410,000, while his barnmate and sire, Savabeel (Zabeel), also had three sales and two sold for $350,000 and $325,000.
Also with three sales was Satono Aladdin (Deep Impact) and his two to make more than the average both sold for $300,000. Three lots by Per Incanto (Street Cry) sold, one making $325,000.
Further sires included Hello Youmzain (Kodiac) with three sold lots up to $200,000, Almanzor (Wootton Bassett), two lots up to $180,000, Ardrossan (Redoute’s Choice), one lot at $150,000 and Proisir (Choisir), three lots up to $150,000.
A different son
While Savabeel (Zabeel) dominates the headlines, a different son of Zabeel, Preferment, sired his overdue second stakes winner when Mustang Morgan outstayed a few Derby aspirants in Sunday’s Gingernuts Salver (Listed, 2100m) to score both his first win and maiden stakes success.
The gelding was having his fifth start and gave some indication that a win was close when running on well for third at Matamata before Christmas. It was a distant third but he was doing his best work late over the 1600 metres. Sunday’s 2100 metres was just the ticket although he was all out to hold on after taking the lead half way down the straight.
A third stakes winner for Preferment should have taken place before now. He has a most promising stayer in Strathtay in Chris Waller’s stable, who is Group 3 and Listed placed in Sydney. Formally trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott at Matamata, Strathtay should pick up a nice stakes win in Sydney this autumn.
And speaking of the O’Sullivan and Scott team, they have one of the favourites for the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m), Checkmate (Mongolian Khan), who on Sunday was kept to 1500 metres rather than the Salver. In his five starts he has secured three wins and could not have been more impressive, sitting equal last into the straight, switching to rail from the 200 metres and, full of running, went to the line easily.
