Savabill Eyes Up the Produce Stakes

One of Saturday's heavily backed runners Savabill has taken a big step towards his Group 1 mission as he more than justified his favouritism in winning Saturday's $50,000 Listed Waikato Stud Slipper 2YO (1200m) at Matamata.

Coming from last and wide on the turn, punters would have been nervous as St Darci made a break in the straight, but jockey Hayden Tinsley rated the horse brilliantly, unleashing the son of Savabeel in the final 150 metres to win by a length.

Trained by John Sargent, Savabill (Savabeel x Illuminate) quickly made a name for himself on the track, winning his first two starts before running third in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes. Running a good fifth in the Karaka Million at his last start, punters backed the two-year-old into $1.90 for Saturday's race.

With Saturday's two-year-old races proving a strong form guide to the juvenile Group 1 contests coming up, Savabill's return to the winning enclosure is timely as he builds for his tilt at the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes on April 2.

Fellow NZB graduate Bespoke (Pins) ran a good third in the race and will also be aimed at the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes.

Savabill was bred by Cambridge Hunt Ltd and was passed in at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale from the Esker Lodge draft.