Savabeel 3YO impresses on return

Ciccina returned to racing in fine style this afternoon at Taree where the Kris Lees-trained filly wasn’t tested over 1250 metres to shed her maiden tag.

The daughter of Savabeel was unplaced in her only previous appearance in January and showed the benefit of a good break and a couple of handy lead-up trial performances to open her account.

Bred by Waikato Stud, Ciccina was purchased at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $300,000 by agent Bruce Perry on behalf of prominent owner Lib Petagna.

The filly is a daughter of the unraced O’Reilly mare Baby Shacks, who has a perfect record at stud with all four of her foals to race now successful. She produced a Tivaci filly last year and is in foal to Super Seth.

Baby Shacks is a sister to the G2 Makybe Diva S. winner and G1 Caulfield Cup placegetter Vigor and to thew G2 Avondale Guineas winner Joey Massino. Their half-brother Vincent Mangano won the inaugural Karaka Million. It is a deep pedigree that also features the G1 VRC Derby winner Amalfi and the G1 Greyville Premier’s Champion S. winner Gold Onyx.