Savabeel 3YO posts perfect Guineas trial

Top colt Savaglee (ex Glee) took an interrupted preparation in his ample stride at Te Aroha Wednesday afternoon to produce a flawless dress rehearsal ahead of his major spring goal.

Prepared at Matamata by Pam Gerard, the Waikato Stud graduate’s latest powerhouse display has now elevated him to the top of the market as a $2.40 favourite for next month’s G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on 9 November.

The son of Savabeel had to overcome two unrewarded trips to the races in his build-up due to abandonments before he romped home in today’s relocated Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial over 1400 metres.

Savaglee had gone south for the middle day of the Hastings spring carnival only for the meeting to canned early on and returned home to subsequently win the G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas, which was shifted to his home track.

He then went to Te Rapa on Labour Day and again that meeting was abandoned with the Sarten switched to today’s Te Aroha fixture.

“He’s had two trips away for nothing and it’s been frustrating, but he just keeps backing up,” Gerard said.

“The 2000 Guineas has always been the goal and he’s done it easily. He is a good, honest colt who loves to run.”

Savaglee broke well to cruise along in second spot away from the rail and was in a league of his own in the run home.

“He’s a really smart horse and settled beautifully,” regular rider Sam Spratt said.

“At the top of the straight he was travelling really well and as soon as I gave him a couple behind the saddle he dug in again, he was very impressive.”

Savaglee cruised home by a length and a-half for the fifth victory of his 11-start career for The Oaks Stud, who went to $400,000 to secure the colt out of Waikato Stud’s draft at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

He is a son of the O’Reilly mare Glee, who had a Savabeel filly last season and is due to
foal again to the champion stallion.

Glee is a half-sister to the dam of dual Group 1 winner Orchestral and the family of fellow
elite level winners Daffodil, Atishu, Aegon and Good Faith.