The Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) is being a billed as a match-race between Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) winner Velocious and undefeated Te Akau Racing filly Captured by Love, but Pam Gerard is keen to spoil the party with her Group Three winner Savaglee.
Bred by Waikato Stud, the two-year-old son of Savabeel races in the colours of The Oaks Stud principal Dick Karreman after he purchased the colt out of the former’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $400,000.
Entrusted to the care of Ballymore Stables’ Matamata operation, headed by Pam Gerard, Savaglee has won two and placed in one of his five starts to date, including a last start victory in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) ahead of Saturday race rival Poetic Champion.
While Velocious (+110) and Captured By Love (+180) clearly head the market for the $450,000 juvenile feature, Savaglee’s last start performance has landed him as the only runner in single figures, rated an +750 winning chance with horse racing bookmakers.
Gerard, who trains in partnership with Michael Moroney, is aware of the mammoth task ahead of her colt this weekend, but she believes he is up to the challenge.
“They (Velocious and Captured By Love) are superstars, so it is a big ask, but he hasn’t been too far away from them when he has been doing things wrong,” Gerard told Trackside NZ.
“His time he ran the other day was quicker than any of them, so he deserves to have his go. Back to Ellerslie, I think he might be better left-handed, but it is hard to know when he was doing things wrong before.
“If he can have the same run (as the Matamata Slipper) he will be giving them a bit of a fright I think.”
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