Savabeel’s son a smart winner

Savabeel three-year-old Aban landed an early winning blow when he posted a tenacious victory over 1350 metres at Ipswich on Wednesday afternoon.

The David Vandyke-trained representative had finished runner-up in his Sunshine Coast debut at the end of last month and he showed his steely nature to go one better in the hands of Ryan Moloney.

The Waikato Stud-bred gelding was caught wide early before settling in second spot and, when the leader cornered awkwardly on the home bend, took a while to get balanced before knuckling down to open his account.

A $16,750 purchase via the Gavelhouse online platform, Aban is the first winner for the O’Reilly mare Babe, who was successful on two occasions up to 1400 metres, and is a half-sister to the Singapore black-type performer Gold Ten Sixty-One.

The headline act in the pedigree is the two-time Group One-winning sprinter Extreme Choice, the
champion Australian first-season sire of top-flight winners Stay Inside and She’s Extreme.