Floria Gives Savabeel Another Group Victory

The $70,000 Group 3 Shinko King @ Paxton Park Cuddle Stakes (1600m) saw Floria (NZ) continue Savabeel's hot run with a fighting victory to claim her first black-type race at Trentham on Saturday.

Trained by Stephen McKee, Floria (Savabeel x Aria) was ridden by leading jockey Leith Innes in the Group 3 and showed a good turn-of-foot in the straight to come from behind to claim Dating (O'Reilly) right at the post to win by a nose in a thrilling finish.

Running fourth in the Listed Westbury Classic at her last start, the win was Floria's first at black-type level and her first since December 2010 when she won her first two starts on the track.

Floria is the 14th stakes winner for her sire Savabeel who is having another successful season with Scarlett Lady winning the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes last weekend and Lady Kipling winning the Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes.

Bred by Richard Moore, Floria was purchased by Trevor McKee from Soliloquy Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Karaka Premier Sale for $80,000. Her three wins on the track have netted over $80,000 in stakes.