New partnership makes early mark

A new trans-Tasman association has got away to a fast start with Saveadateforme successful on the all-weather track at Pakenham.

The Waikato Stud-bred and sold son of champion sire Savabeel deservedly added to his record with a smart performance to score over 2200 metres on Friday evening.

“It’s just brilliant for Go Racing, who have just come on board to support our stable with a couple of horses,” trainer Charlotte Littlefield said.

“It’s great to get a win when it really mattered, he’s been such a consistent horse and it’s worked out beautifully.”

Saveadateforme settled in the last three before rider Beau Mertens urged him around the field 500 metres from home and he produced a sustained finish to mow his rivals down.

“He travelled into the race really well and he did a good job to pick the up like he did,” Mertens said.

Albert Bosma’s Go Racing bought Saveadateforme out of the Matamata nursery’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $220,000.

He is a son of the late O’Reilly mare Dating, who was a quality mare and won five races, including two at Group 3 level and finished third in the G1 Captain Cook S.

All five of her offspring to race have been successful with Date Night also a multiple black type placegetter.