Savabeel 3YO delivers for Kennedy

Waikato Stud’s promising filly Subtle Power proved a memorable result for Barbara Kennedy at Ruakaka on Saturday afternoon.

The Savabeel three-year-old was successful at her second appearance to give the Byerley Park horsewoman her first New Zealand training success, and adding to the occasion was husband Warren guiding the filly to victory.

Stepping up to 1600 metres, Subtle Power was away well to settle in the trail and took advantage of a rails run on straightening to lengthen stride with a determined finish. 

“It’s great and the penny hasn’t dropped yet with the filly. She’ll probably go out for a spell now and she will get a lot better,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy trained 59 winners in her native South Africa before the family relocated to New Zealand and operates out of the stables of the recently retired Peter and Dawn Williams.

Subtle Power was making her second appearance after finishing strongly for third on debut on the synthetic track at Cambridge.

“She’s a really big filly and she was a bit slow away and didn’t appreciate the kick back,” Warren Kennedy said.

“Once she got out into the clear, she ran on really well and I thought she would be a big chance.”

Subtle Power is out of the Dylan Thomas mare Kim Dynasty, who has now left three winners, and she is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes winner Arlingtonboulevard.

Kim Dynasty has an unraced juvenile filly by Super Seth, produced a yearling brother to Subtle Power last season and is in foal to Noverre.