Savabeel 3YO returns in style
Major Beel overcame a torrid run under a big weight to return in a blaze of glory over 1300 metres at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.
It was the Savabeel three-year-old’s first run since he finished sixth in the Listed Super Impose S. during the Melbourne spring carnival.
Under 60.5kg, Major Beel drew an awkward gate and rider Lee Magorrian had no choice but to sit three wide on the pace without cover.
It made little difference to the Waikato Stud graduate who strode to the front 150 metres from home and stayed on strongly for his second win from seven appearances.
Major Beel is the first foal of the unraced O’Reilly mare Gram (NZ), who has a juvenile Savabeel filly named Rose Gold and is back in foal to the Champion Sire.
Gram is a daughter of the G2 Karakatta Plate winner Gold Rocks, whose daughters Gold Fever and Gold Rush both won editions of the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. while Calaverite was successful at Listed level in the Gimcrack S. and St Albans S.
Major Beel was purchased out of Waikato Stud’s draft at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale for A$260,000 by Waterhouse, Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds with the Matamata farm remaining in the ownership.
Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle
A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.
Read More
Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding
Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.
Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.
Read More