Group three honours for savabeel filly

31 January 2016

Duchess Kate became Savabeel’s latest black type performer with a fighting victory in today’s Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham. She beat a competitive line-up of fillies with a performance that has trimmed her Gr 1 New Zealand Oaks odds from $21 to $16.

Trained for Sydney owner Max Whitby by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, Duchess Kate headed south with a last-start defeat of the talented Hiflyer on her CV and she dug deeply to continue her winning form under stable jockey Matt Cameron.

“She pinged the machine and Matt got her to relax beautifully,” Richards said. “She’s very tough and it’s great to have a really good filly on the way up. Max and Stevie have been good buddies for years so it’s a great result.”

Duchess Kate enjoyed a good run with cover behind the leaders and wouldn’t be denied in the straight. “She put herself right there and travelled nicely and found the line well,” Cameron said. “She’s still got her quirks, but she’s getting better so it’s onwards and upwards.”

Ardrossan’s daughter shines in Sydney

Ardrossan’s daughter De Armas ran a fine second in the Gr.1 Flight Stakes over 1600m. It was a small but high-quality field, and the race shaped as a contest between three accomplished fillies.

6 October 2026

Savabeel Double at Matamata

It was a weekend to remember for Waikato Stud, with our white, blue and green silks to the fore as two of Sav’s progeny, bred by Garry Chittick, won at Matamata.