Savaglee has conquered all before him at age-group level in New Zealand, and on Saturday, the star colt will take on the older horses in a star-studded edition of the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).
In six starts as a three-year-old, Savaglee has won on five occasions, including the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m), Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Group 2 Levin Classic (1400m), all with considerable ease.
His owners The Oaks Stud, and Pam Gerard, who trains the gelding at Matamata, resisted the temptation of a $1.5 million prize on Karaka Millions Night in favour of the $500,000 feature, which gives a more favourable lead-in to a tilt at the $1 million Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 1.
The son of Savabeel had his final public appearance in an exhibition gallop last Friday at Te Rapa, where he will return this weekend to take on the likes of Grail Seeker and Australian raiders Busustow and Here To Shock.
“It was a nice day out and a bit of a hit out for him, he’s always pretty casual and never gives too much away,” Gerard said. “I’m happy with how he’s come away from that.
“He’ll work in the morning and have a swim in the afternoon as usual for the next couple of days, it’s just keeping him ticking over. We’re just aiming to have him bright, healthy and happy.
“He can do whatever he needs to do, he jumps and puts himself in the race, he can be back, forward, it doesn’t matter. He’s very adaptable, nothing needs to change.”
As he has at every start this season, the colt will be ridden by Sam Spratt, and in the early market with horse racing betting sites, he is rated a $3.80 second favourite behind Grail Seeker ($2.30).
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