Consecutive G3 Wellington Stakes Victories For Waikato Stud Sires

In what can only be described as an unbelievable finish to Sunday’s G3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki, Savabeel’s son Ammirati came out victorious after severe interference and surviving a protest to win for Hawridge Developments Ltd, Jamieson Park Ltd and JML Bloodstock Ltd (Mgr: L Petagna).

After last year’s win by Tivaci 3yo Tuxedo, Ammirati is the third individual winner in the race for Savabeel, joining previous winners Lincoln Blue in 2016 and Lucia Valentina in 2013, while the Waikato Stud-based Ocean Park was also triumphant in the race, winning by four and a half lengths in 2012.

Settling in fifth position in the run, the Stephen Marsh trained gelding appeared comfortable sitting on the outside of race favourite Road To Paris, while another fancied runner Abbakiss controlled the race from the front at a solid tempo.

As the leader headed for home, she appeared to have the rest of the field chasing, but jockey Matt Cartwright started to urge Ammirati along as the gelding appeared to work through his gears to chase down the leader.

Road To Paris had weaved through the field to take the lead and look the winner, before unfortunately the Circus Maximus gelding veered to his outside, colliding with Ammirati who had made up considerable ground, throwing jockey Masa Hashizume to the ground.

With all of this was happening, 100/1 outsider Tulsa King had charged down the outside from last while Landman had made up considerable ground along the inside.

When the line was reached, unfortunately Road To Paris had already thrown his jockey and therefore was ineligible to win the race, while the other three crossed the line seemingly in unison.

After am photo finish and surviving a protest from the connections of the eventual second placed Tulsa King, Ammirati was awarded first place, becoming the 154th individual stakes winner for Savabeel, who interestingly recorded a stakes double over the weekend with Major Beel winning the Listed ATC Cup at Rosehill in Australia.

“It’s a funny old game,” Marsh’s stable representative and bloodstock manager Dylan Johnson said post race.

“It was a good performance from the horse. He was under a bit of pressure from the 600m, but he just kept finding and he was actually starting to pick the favourite up in that last little bit before everything happened. It’s an unusual way to win the race, but it’ll go in the book.”

“JML Bloodstock have been unbelievable supporters of the stable, and it’s been great to pick up a couple of Group Three wins for them in the last week or so with Ardalio and now this horse,” Johnson said.

“Ammirati seems to be getting better and better. Stephen and I mentioned to Lib (Petagna) and Bruce (Perry) after his last win that he’s potentially the type of horse that could get through to a Derby. The way he raced today and kept coming at them late, it gives us confidence to carry on that way.

“It’s just great to have success in these colours. They put so much into New Zealand racing, and it’s nice to see the people that really stump up get the returns.”

Consigned via our NZB Yearling Sale draft (Book 1) in 2024, when purchased for $450,000 by Burce Perry Bloodstock, we’re looking forward to offer Lot 467 this year with the full brother to Ammirati sure to have plenty of admirers.