Alcabeel off to flying start

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Alcabeel made the perfect start to his career at Newcastle on Saturday.
The son of Savabeel was triumphant on debut over 1400 metres in the hands of Jean Van Overmeire.
Off the back of two lead-up trials, Alcabeel was quickly into stride and led before taking a trail and was back in front early in the run home.
The three-year-old was hotly pursued and rallied strongly over the closing 300 metres to win at the first time of asking.
Alcabeel was offered on behalf of breeder Waikato Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Sledmere Stud and was knocked down for A$320,000 to his trainers and Kestrel Bloodstock.
A half-brother to four winners including stakes performers Maritimo and Natural Storm, Alcabeel is out of the O’Reilly mare Miracle Miss who won five races and ran third in the G3 Taranaki Cup and fourth in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
The late Miracle Miss, a sister to the dual Group 3 winner Dating, produced a son of Super Seth after Alcabeel and was sold to Lindsay Park for $130,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale where he was offered by Ohukia Lodge.

The Corner with Garry Chittick
Well, it was finally our turn. Mary and I shared in the joy of winning a race; we were there, of course. We could have settled in, in front of the TV – not driven the 50 minutes each way, but the emotions are entirely different.
Read More
Smart Love too smart this start
Smart Love (Savabeel ex Relentless Desire) made a winning return at Te Rapa on 14 September, storming home by 3.3 lengths. Racing in Garry Chittick’s colours, the four-year-old mare impressed for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott after two solid trials.
Read More