Savaria Savours Gr.1 NZ Oaks Win

Lightly tried filly Savaria (NZ) (Savabeel) completed a meteoric rise through the grades to win the Group 1 $300,000 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham last Saturday.

This was the last leg in New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, a 10-race Series spread across the 2014-15 racing season. Platinum Witness (California Dane) accumulated the most points over the 10 races, winning the coveted title. Savaria finished third in the Series with 16.5 points.

Entering the race having just five previous starts, Savaria has been consistent all season, placing no further back than a fifth for trainer Roydon Bergerson. The Savabeel filly broke maiden status on 1 January this year, her next success coming at stakes level at her last start, two weeks ago in the Group 3 Lowland Stakes, where she finished first equal with race rival Platinum Witness.

“I think she thoroughly deserved to win,” commented Bergerson. “She finished the race off better than anything else. It was a good ride and it turned out to be a great day.

“It’s hard to have confidence going into any race, but I was pretty confident with the way she paraded on Saturday. She looked good and when she walked into the birdcage I knew she was a major player.”

Starting from barrier 1, rider Hayden Tinsley settled Savaria just ahead of mid-field while Gin Swing (NZ) (Keeper) led the field of 15 fillies. Savaria tracked the leaders on the turn for home as Charmont (High Chaparral) ranged up to take the lead.

Gin Swing dropped back in the straight, giving Savaria incentive to make her move and squeeze through on the inside next to Exquisite Jewel (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn), to power home in the final 100 metres. Savaria stormed past her rivals to win by three-quarters-of-a-length over Platinum Witness,who finished strongly down the outside into second place, and Charmont was a further nose away in third position.

“I haven’t got anything lined up just yet, I will leave it for a week and see how she is but I might pay the late fee and run her in the AJC Oaks,” noted Bergerson.

The Savabeel filly finished the race not only with a Group 1 win but has also earned herself a bonus as the second leading filly in the Wellfield Lodge Triple Crown Series. As the winner of the Group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks, Savaria received 6 points in the Series.

Savaria has now earned $225,550 in prizemoney for owners Des & Mrs Kay Fleming who purchased the filly at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale for $110,000 from Bluegables Farm.

Bred by Monty & Judy Henderson, Savaria is out of the unplaced mare, Amathea (O’Reilly), a three-quarter-sister to stakes placegetter Filey (O’Reilly), second in the Group 3 Gasmate Stakes, and a half-sister to Group 3 Lowland Stakes placegetter Soelin (Stravinsky).