Eight Group One performers were put through their paces in a star-studded 1100m trial before the eight-race twilight card at Matamata on Friday, and it was standout three-year-old Savaglee who came out on top.
Making his first public appearance since romping to victory by almost three lengths in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 9, the Savabeel colt settled in third through the early stages of Friday’s trial as speedy mare Babylon Berlin opened up a big lead over Luberon.
Savaglee quickened stylishly through an opening in between Babylon Berlin and Luberon at the top of the straight, striding to the lead under a hands-and-heels ride from Sam Spratt.
Skew Wiff stormed home in the final 75m and got to within a nose, but the Pam Gerard-trained Savaglee held on for a narrow win. Luberon finished another short head away in third, followed by Babylon Berlin and the strong-finishing Grail Seeker. Qali Al Farrasha, Trobriand and Move To Strike completed the finishing order. The 1100m were run in 1:05.31 in a Soft5 track that was upgraded to Good4 not long afterwards.
Savaglee’s 12-start career has produced six wins, two placings and $744,975 in stakes for owners The Oaks Stud, whose general manager Rick Williams was delighted with the trial.
“I was thrilled,” he said. “I probably didn’t really expect him to win against such a high-quality group of older horses, but he did, and Sam got off him and said she didn’t really extend him at all. So we got the result we wanted, and then some.
“It’s a great way to start off a campaign that’s probably going to tell us where his ceiling is. He’s continuing to strengthen and please us with everything that he’s doing. It’s exciting. Our next stop is going to be the Levin Classic (Gr.2, 1400m) at Trentham on January 11, and we’ll take it from there.”
Skew Wiff’s connections were similarly enthusiastic about the Savabeel mare’s powerful late burst. Off the scene since finishing second in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) on October 2, Skew Wiff is primed for a fresh-up tilt at the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 4.
“We’re really pleased,” co-trainer Sam Bergerson said. “Opie (Bosson, jockey) couldn’t have been any more complimentary when he got off her. She seems to be coming up very well as we build her towards the Telegraph, which is just over two weeks away.”
The TAB rates Skew Wiff an $8 chance in a Telegraph market that is headed by Grail Seeker at $4.50, while Crocetti, Luberon and Waitak share second favouritism at $6.
