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.

Super debut by Wallace’s Seth filly

Long-time Waikato Stud supporter Gary Wallace celebrated as his homebred Super Seth filly Kia Kaha scored stylishly at Matamata. With multiple stakes winners and two Group 1 stars already, Super Seth’s early success as a sire continues to shine on both sides of the Tasman – and Kia Kaha adds to that story.

22 March 2025

Sav’s sixth Group 1 winner as a broodmare sire

Savabeel sires sixth individual Group 1 winner as a broodmare sire with Gringotts joining Never Been Kissed, Icebath, Warmonger, Savatoxl and Beauty Eternal as Group 1 winners out of Waikato Stud’s NZ Hall of Fame inductee in waiting, Savabeel.