Savabeel filly does it again for Marsh

Marsh was victorious in 2015 with No More Tears and subsequently prepared Ugo Foscolo and the now Caulfield-based Ardrossan to follow suit.

“It’s a race we have targeted and I thought we were in with a right royal chance again,” he said.

“It’s a bit of a new approach and we don’t get into the babies early on and look at these later season races, which sets them up as three-year-olds.”

Raced by Lib Petagna under his JML Bloodstock banner and managed by Bruce Perry, Santa Caterina may now head to the paddock on a winning note.

“There’s a 1400m race at Pukekohe, but we might just put her aside,” Marsh said.

“It’s great to get another winner for Lib and Bruce – it’s our job to get these types of fillies black type.”

Santa Catarina was bred by Petagna, who is now counting his blessings after the filly failed to make her $80,000 reserve at Karaka last year.

She is out of the US-bred mare Discreet Evening, from a family that boasts numerous North American and European Group winners.

The 74th individual stakes winner for Savabeel, Santa Catarina sat off the speed before she unwound powerfully in the straight.
“They went at a really good clip and that probably set it up for us,” winning rider Danielle Johnson said.

“I wanted to be in behind the speed and she showed great acceleration.”

Santa Catarina had also won at her previous start when raw ability was enough to overcome heavily rain-affected going at Matamata.

“At her last start on a heavy track it was her class that prevailed,” Johnson said.