Regal Roller Reward for Savannah Cloud (NZ)

Well-related Karaka graduate Savannah Cloud (NZ) (Savabeel) was rewarded for his four seasons of consistency and quality when he scored a deserved feature-race win in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Evergreen Turf Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

It was the first stakes win for the six-year-old, who has had a total of 25 starts for eight wins, 13 placings, and A$572,600 in stakes. He was a $140,000 purchase from Haunui Farm’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2019.

Savannah Cloud started his career as a late-season two-year-old, recording placings in both of his two races. He then had five starts at three for a win and three placings, followed by two wins and four placings from seven appearances as a four-year-old. He was even more productive as a five-year-old last season, recording four wins and four placings from his 10 starts.

But Savannah Cloud took things to a new level when he kicked off his six-year-old season in Saturday’s Regal Roller Stakes. Ridden by Daniel Moor, he took up a handy position in third behind a solid pace, then drove through the inside in the home straight to snatch a narrow victory right on the finish line.

“It was really well deserved,” trainer Phillip Stokes said. “I just thought he’d need the run today and we’d point him towards a benchmark race in three weeks’ time, but we might have to re-evaluate that now. He was given a beautiful ride and got his head down.”

Savannah Cloud made a good impression on Moor, who has recently returned to Australia following a stint in Singapore.

“I haven’t been back long, so obviously I’m thankful for the support and the opportunities,” Moor said. “It’s terrific for this horse to get a stakes win under his belt, especially given we thought he’d come to the races today with good improvement in him. If that is the case, hopefully he’s in for a good preparation.”

Savannah Cloud became the 134th individual stakes winner for Waikato Stud’s sensational sire Savabeel.

The dam of Savannah Cloud is the top-class mare Annie Higgins (NZ) (O’Reilly), who won six races including the Group Three Waikato Cup (2400m), Group Three Counties Cup (2100m), and Listed Sunline Vase (2100m). She also placed in another four black-type events, and she is the dam of three winners from three foals to race.