Savabeel’s son too good in Cup

Savabeel’s son Nereus (ex Eudora) doubled his tally at black-type level when he reigned supreme in this afternoon’s Gr.3 TAB Counties Cup at Pukekohe.

The five-year-old has been patiently handled by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray and were rewarded with another major middle-distance success, following the gelding’s victory in last season’s G2 Awapuni Gold Cup.

“It’s fantastic for Colm and I to win another race in the Waikato Stud colours and feel this horse goes best with his races spaced,” Ritchie said.

Nereus had previously finished sixth over 1600 metres at Ellerslie a month ago and the step up to 2100 metres today proved ideal.

“We backed off him and went back to the mile last time, always thinking he would make a stayer,” Ritchie said.

“He has really picked his appetite up in the last week so the signs were there he would go well and he has.”

Ritchie will now look at targeting summer staying features with Nereus.

“He has a magnificent pedigree being by a champion stallion who keeps producing and out of a fantastic mare,” he said.

“It would be nice if we could get him to run two miles as there is a lot more money in those races.”

Nereus lobbed along in midfield before rider Joe Doyle urged him to pick up ground wide across the top and finished determinedly in the run home.

“Going down the back I thought we would be right in it and he was good and tough up the straight,” he said.

Nereus is a brother to the two-time Group 1 winner Savvy Coup with their dam the Pins mare Eudora.

She is a sister to the Group winners Legless Veuve and Tootsie, dam of the three-time Group 2 winner and sire Ocean Emperor and the mother of Waikato Stud’s G1 Flight Stakes winner Never Been Kissed (by Tivaci).

The other heavily decorated member of this family is the four-time elite-level winner Probabeel.