Bassett Strikes Stakes Success at Moonee Valley

On-pace galloper Bassett (NZ) (Savabeel)became Savabeel’s 15th stakes winner this season at Moonee Valley last Friday.

Bassett, who was purchased at the 2014 Premier Sale for just $60,000, struck what was his first black-type win when he dominated Friday night’s A$120,000 Listed Sweeney Estate Agents Abell Stakes (1200m).

Trained by Mick Price and ridden by apprentice jockey Beau Mertens, Bassett sat outside the leader before effortlessly cruising to the front 500 metres from home. The four-year-old gelding asserted his superiority down the short Moonee Valley straight, drawing away by two and a quarter lengths and stopping the clock at 1:10.65.

The win was Bassett’s fourth from 17 career starts and pushed his prize-money earnings to $299,900 – almost five times his purchase price at Karaka.

Bred by Qatar Bloodstock, Bassett is out of the stakes-placed Captain Rio mare Fledgling (NZ) – a half-sister to the Group 1 winner and sire Fully Fledged (NZ) (Align).

Bassett was offered by Westbury Stud at the 2014 Premier Sale, where former trainer Peter Moody secured him for $55,000. He now races for a large group of owners, made up of MJ Scheele, VM Stackhouse, S Hillier, Mrs H Hillier, PG Green, AW Bruhn, SW Bruhn, MC Bryant, Mrs CMH Bryant, VYK Ip, JW Daniels, Mrs SM Ridgway, M Maskell, TN Porter and WS Pelchen.