Avebury cut above rivals

Strapping Savabeel mare Avebury was too big and strong for her rivals on the Kensington track at Randwick on Wednesday afternoon.

The John O’Shea-trained performer had put the writing on the wall when runner-up at her previous appearance and she went one better in grand style over 1400 metres.

“She’s developed no end from a three-year-old to four. She is racing really well, so hopefully she’ll go on with it,” stable representative Tom Charlton said.

Bred and sold by Waikato Stud, Avebury settled in the trail and shouldered into the clear 300 metres from home before asserting her superiority.

“She had an electric turn of foot and put them away really nicely. She’s a decent mare and that will give her even more confidence,” winning rider James McDonald said.

Successful in last season’s Listed Canberra Guineas, Avebury was purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by O’Shea for A$200,000 and is a sister to the multiple winner and G1 Queensland Derby runner-up Paternal.

Their dam is the O’Reilly mare O’Dianne, who was successful as a two-year-old, and she is a daughter of the G3 Frances Tressady S. winner Breezy and the family of the Matamata farm’s international Group 1 winner and sire Starcraft.

O’Dianne’s colt by Super Seth was purchased at this year’s Magic Millions Sale for A$450,000 by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock and she is due to foal to Noverre.