Rudy On The Mark With Savabeel Filly

Rudy Liefting’s unwavering faith in his Savabeel filly Ray’s Girl was rewarded at Riccarton with a black-type victory. The Listed Soliloquy Stakes placegetter raced away with yesterday’s Listed Canterbury Stakes to stake a genuine claim for next month’s Gr 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

“I couldn’t find a race between the Soliloquy and the Guineas and I even contemplated taking her to Melbourne,” Liefting said. “It was just cutting it a bit fine to the Guineas, but I wasn’t frightened to go there. This is a serious filly and we’ve taken our time with her.”

A two-year-old winner last season, the WS-bred Ray’s Girl was ridden by David Walker and they settled within striking distance of the leaders along the fence. They left favourite Southern Lord, who had finished runner-up behind the unbeaten Sacred Falls (O’Reilly) at his previous two appearances, in their wake in the straight for a commanding victory.

A $6000 yearling, Ray’s Girl is the first foal of the unraced Viking Ruler mare Natural Rhythm. She is from the Gr 1 family of Domino (NZ Oaks, AJC Oaks, Hero (NZ 2000 Guineas, Otaki-Maori WFA), Linky Dink (TJ Smith Stakes) and Sale Of The Century (Rosehill Guineas).