Mighty effort from Savabeel 4YO

Savabeel’s son The Mighty Spar was good enough to get himself out of trouble at Matamata on Friday afternoon to justify his warm favouritism.

The Mark Walker-trained 4-year-old was stepping up to a middle distance for the first time and everything went to plan until the 500-metre mark.

Rider Joe Kamaruddin had the Waikato Stud graduate travelling well one off the fence in midfield before they lost ground in a melee and were giving the leader a lengthy start at the top of the straight.

Not to be outdone, The Mighty Spar finished resolutely to get up on the post and record the third win of his 15-start career, which also includes seven minor placings.

He was a high-priced Karaka yearling when purchased by Te Akau’s David Ellis for $430,000 and is he first foal of the O’Reilly mare O’Dianne.

She was successful on two occasions and fourth in the Karaka Million and is out of the G3 Frances Tressady S. winner Breezy, a three-quarter sister to the dam of the G2 Cal Isuzu S. winner Sports Illustrated and the family of the Matamata farm’s multiple Group 1 winner and sire Starcraft.

O’Dianne produced a colt last season by Super Seth and then paid a return visit to the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner.