Gun three-year-old Savaglee will likely head to the spelling paddock following his heroic runner-up performance behind fellow Kiwi-bred Feroce in Saturday’s Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
Racing in The Oaks Stud’s familiar colours, Savaglee has been a standout in his three-year-old term for trainer Pam Gerard, winning the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and placing in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) prior to Saturday’s result.
While he was unable to get the chocolates at Flemington, The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams was rapt with his performance and said it indicates the best is yet to come from the Savabeel colt.
“It was terrific,” he said. “It was quite a significant lift on his run at Te Rapa (in the BCD Group Sprint). As Mick Dee (jockey) said, he is right up to Group One form, he was just a bit on the steel early and that cost him in the last 100m. That is just practice and experience at that level.
“I am very happy with him. He is a very sound horse. I think he is still a bit of a baby and is improving, like most Savabeels, the good ones get better with each year. I think he has still got his best races in front of him.
“It (Saturday’s result) has only added to his value, the way that the media and the people that I respect are talking about his performance. He is right up there with the best three-year-olds over here (Australia) and another day, another way, he might have won.
“I think a very good horse (Feroce) has beaten him and a horse that you will see more of as they go deeper into the autumn.”
Nominated for Saturday’s Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington, Williams said Savaglee would more than likely take his place on a mid-week flight back to New Zealand and enjoy some time in the paddock.
“I put a nom in as an afterthought (for the All-Star Mile),” Williams said. “We will see what the ratings are like, he has bounced through the race incredibly well.
“I haven’t had a talk with Pam, but at this stage he is booked to come home on Wednesday and that will be the end of his three-year-old season, and that is more than likely what is going to happen. We will just watch the noms and see what happens over the next 24-hours to make a final decision.”
Meanwhile, The Oaks Stud filly Alaskan will press on to the $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) later this month following Sunday’s unplaced run in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Trentham.
“She got in an awkward position back and then went for the run at the top of the straight and got shut right out, so it was a non-event,” Williams said of the Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained filly.
“If she has bounced through the race, I am still very keen to go through to the Oaks now.”
While The Oaks Stud has plenty to look forward to with Savaglee and Alaskan, the racing career of fellow promising three-year-old Cypher has likely ended.
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly was set to line-up on Champions Day at Ellerslie this weekend but has been ruled out after she was injured in a track incident.
“I am pretty certain she won’t be able to race again,” Williams said.
