Savabeel Mare Primed For Gr 1 Success

A top-flight victory for Savabeel’s daughter Lady Kipling looks on the cards after her brave performance to win yesterday’s Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.

The quality five-year-old has been placed three times – in the Otaki Maori WFA and the Zabeel and Levin Classics – at the highest level and will get her chance to claim a deserved major prize next month.

“We’ll give her a week and have a good think, but obviously we’ve got the Captain Cook Stakes in mind for her,” said trainer Murray Baker, who trains the mare in partnership with Andrew Forsman. “She’s got very strong and is a lovely mare with a great temperament.”

Lady Kipling was given a dream run behind the leader today by Opie Bosson and they were in front at the top of the straight. They were headed by Miss Pelear but rallied strongly in the closing stages to grab victory the fillies’ and mares’ feature. “I thought the other horse had me but to my horse’s credit she really knuckled down,” Bosson said. Lady Kipling has now won nine races and is a multiple Gr 2 winner having claimed the Cal Isuzu Stakes last season.

Savabeel also sired the following winner with Savanah Rush going back-to-back after she had earlier won at Te Rapa. Trainer Lauren Brennan has the five-year-old nominated for all the major cups with the Gr.2 City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day the first target.