Savile Row was a special horse in Pam Gerard’s training career and she is looking forward to debuting one of the young sire’s progeny in Suit Yourself at Arawa Park on Saturday.
A son of Makfi, Savile Row was a stakes winner and multiple Group One-placegetter in his short racing career, before retiring to stud at Valachi Downs and later Mapperley Stud.
During Valachi Downs’ dispersal sale in 2022, Gerard secured Suit Yourself as a weanling and has since watched his half-sister Sedaka become a multiple-Group Two placegetter during her three-year-old campaign, before being sold as a lucrative breeding proposition due to injury.
“I trained Savile Row, so I had been looking at getting hold of one and I’d missed out on a few auctions,” Gerard said.
“I happened to see this horse on the sale and knew a little bit about the family. I really liked the type and he was very clean, he just needed to grow, which he has done.
“The half-sister going out and performing in Group Twos was very helpful and he is an exceptionally good-looking colt.
“He’ll let us know if he doesn’t want to be a colt, but he’s no hassle whatsoever. Being a colt sometimes gives them that little bit of edge going into the early spring, but if they don’t need to be gelded they are just treated like any other horse.”
A winner of his last two trials, Suit Yourself is among a six-horse juvenile field, with the benefit of leading hoop Michael McNab to guide his fortunes.
“He’s done everything he’s had to and pretty easily, but obviously race-day is a completely different scenario,” Gerard said.
“We’ll have to see how the track comes up, I don’t think he would suit a really heavy surface but he’s a really nice horse and I probably would expect a bold showing from him.”
Gerard trains in partnership with Michael Moroney and the pair will also be represented by Tarzana, a half-sister to former stable Group One winner On The Rocks.
The Tarzino filly was also nominated for the Hastings meeting on Thursday, with the decision to be made on race morning.
“We’ll probably take her on Saturday, but we will make the final decision in the morning,” Gerard said.
“She’s had a long time between runs as we’ve been waiting for a slightly better track, I’m not sure if she’ll get that on Saturday but we’re at the point where she really needs to have a run.
“She’s a nice little filly, doesn’t give much away but on race-day she’s very professional.”
The Matamata trainers also hold four-year-old gelding Presuming in high regard and expect further improvement.
“He’s a pretty smart horse, we’ve given him plenty of time and possibly just came to the end of it at his last prep. He’s only going to get better the further he goes,” Gerard said.
Completing the stable’s runners are Step In Time and Key Largo, both to appreciate light weights courtesy of apprentice Joe Nishizuka claiming four kilograms.
“Step In Time was a bit unlucky at Hastings, they just went no clip whatsoever and he’s a horse that needs a genuine pace in there,” Gerard said.
“He was good when he won and the same at Pukekohe, just put a line through that last start as he’s not a sit and sprint horse. He’s a big chance on Saturday.
“We scratched Key Largo from Pukekohe today which proved to be a blessing, but it was because he got in so nicely at the weights at Rotorua.
“He got through the track really well there last time, he was a bit unlucky not to go closer. I think the smaller tracks suit him where he can get a bit of cover, he tends to be a bit fierce on a big track.”
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