Savaglee (NZ) Supreme in 2000 Guineas

The sensational Savaglee (NZ) became the third Karaka-sourced son of Savabeel in the last seven years to win the $650,000 Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, and his connections are hoping he might follow the other two’s footsteps into a stud career.

Savaglee was a $400,000 purchase by The Oaks Stud from the Karaka 2023 Book 1 draft of breeders Waikato Stud. He has now had 12 starts for six wins, two placings and $744,975 in prize-money.

Savaglee’s heroics on Saturday saw him join Embellish (NZ) and Noverre (NZ) as 2000 Guineas-winning sons of Savabeel. Both of that pair were bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis at Karaka, costing $775,000 and $800,000 respectively. Embellish won his 2000 Guineas in 2017 and later retired to stand at Cambridge Stud, while Noverre’s win in 2021 earned him a spot on the stallion roster of his birthplace Waikato Stud.

Savaglee now has some compelling credentials to follow their lead. In addition to his ever-improving racetrack performances, he is also out of a full-sister to the dam of Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m), Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) heroine Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel).

“I’m so honoured that The Oaks Stud has entrusted me with this colt,” Savaglee’s trainer Pam Gerard said on Saturday. “He’s done the job for them today and he’s halfway to being a stallion now. It’s amazing.

“He’s been brilliant. I wasn’t worried until about 10 minutes before the race, but then it all hits home. You start thinking, ‘Have I done it right?’

“But this is just a really good little horse that’s gone from strength to strength this season. It was probably easy in the end, but it’s never easy to watch.”

Savaglee won twice from seven starts as a two-year-old last season, including the Group Three Matamata Slipper (1200m). But he has transformed into a different animal at three, winning four of his five starts this spring including the Group Two Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Group Two Sarten Memorial (1400m) and the 2000 Guineas.

Sent out as a $1.70 favourite for Saturday’s classic, Savaglee settled in third before cruising up alongside the leader at the home turn. Savaglee took charge in the straight and opened right up, sailing away to win by two and three-quarter lengths.

“That was pretty much perfect, he came back to me so nicely and just cruised along,” jockey Sam Spratt said. “I briefly thought he was a bit flat around the 800 metres, but then as soon as I dug him up, I had plenty of horse there.

“They loomed up to us in the straight, but he’s got an amazing turn of foot. He just kicked away and was too good.

“I haven’t ridden a lot of colts like him in my time, so it’s very special to be riding him and winning this race today.”

Saturday’s win continued a proud record at this carnival for The Oaks Stud, who had previously won the 2000 Guineas with homebred star Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma) in 2019 while Risque (NZ) (Darci Brahma) won the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in 2015.

“It’s always a huge honour to win a race like this,” The Oaks Stud general manager Rick Williams said. “We’ve been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of Al Basti Equiworld’s generous sponsorship a couple of times now.

“It’s fitting that we won this race today with Pam Gerard. A few years ago, when she was an assistant trainer with Te Akau, she came down here with our filly Risque and spent about three months here with her during that spring. She ended up winning the 1000 Guineas, so as far as I’m concerned, Pam and The Oaks Stud are two-from-two together now.

“Sam Spratt is riding at the absolute peak of her powers as well. I really appreciate the way she’s stuck with this horse and the relationship she’s formed with him.

“He’s just an exceptional colt, and I’m hoping we’ll see a bit more of that in the future.”

The 2000 Guineas a Bonus Eligible Race for the inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie in March. In addition to the $3.5m base prize-money of the NZB Kiwi, an additional $1m in bonuses is up for grabs. To be eligible for a share of the bonus pool, a horse must win one of the Bonus Eligible Races and finish first, second or third in the NZB Kiwi.

The Canterbury Jockey Club holds a slot for the NZB Kiwi and will give the connections of the 2000 Guineas the first option to negotiate for the use of their slot.

Vendor	Waikato Stud Ltd
Purchaser	The Oaks Stud (Waikato)
Breeding	Savabeel – Glee
Sale	Lot 210, Karaka 2023 Book 1, $400,000
Bred by	Waikato Stud Ltd