Savabeel colt lifts Derby profile

23 February 2016

Savabeel’s son What’s The Story boosted his Group One hopes with an outstanding effort at Ellerslie on Saturday. The three-year-old showed his quality when he overcame a chequered run to beat the older horses in his middle distance debut.

The colt came off the canvas after he was involved in a skirmish 600 from home to produce a sustained finish for his second career win. “He lost quite a bit of ground so to get up was a massive performance,” trainer Stephen McKee said.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in the horse and he’s put his hand up as a Derby type. He’s fit so I’ll just keep him ticking over – we’ve come in through the back door so we’ll see how we go.”

What’s The Story’s New Zealand Derby odds were immediately slashed from $51 to $18 following his latest performance. An $80,000 Karaka yearling, he is out of a Carnegie mare who is a half-sister to the multiple Group One winner Tall Poppy.

Back-to-back wins for Sav mare Precinct

Savabeel’s daughter Precinct goes back-to-back at Hawkesbury on Thursday in the WS colours for owners Mark Chittick and Kris Shailer, trained by Ciaron Maher.

10 September 2025

Sanctified extends Super Seth’s winning run

Super Seth, crowned New Zealand’s Champion Second Season Sire for 2024/25, added another highlight when Sanctified broke through at Warwick Farm, becoming his 53rd individual winner and further cementing the Caulfield Guineas hero’s remarkable early stud record.