Savabeel Trot Continues

Debutante Floria continued Savabeel’s impressive flow of winners when she produced a determined performance to win at Tauranga today. The three-year-old looked to be under pressure on the turn but responded valiantly in the straight to score off the back of two trial placings.

“It was a very good effort after sitting outside the leader who looked to be travelling better, but to her credit she struck on really well,” Ardmore trainer Stephen McKee said. “She’s only one (by Savabeel) in the stable but they’ve been firing up lately with a bit of time.”

Bred and raced by Richard Moore, Floria boasts a further connection to WS as she is out of the Centaine mare Aria, who won four races. “She was a really fast mare so we’ll see how far this one goes distance-wise as we take her through the grades,” McKee said.

Floria’s success followed on from the midweek maiden victory of the Savabeel three-year-old Whitby at Ellerslie. Trained by Stephen Autridge, he bounced straight to the front under rider Andrew Calder and dug deep in the straight to win.

“”I’ve always had a bit of time for this horse and it’s taken him a while to work out what it’s all about,” Autridge said. “The owners are from Australia and had a share in Savabeel and wanted me to find them him one by him.”

A three-quarter brother to the promising Australian stayer Macedonian, Whitby is out of a Carnegie mare who is a half-sister to the Gr 1 Railway Handicap winner Coogee Walk and the Listed winner The Big Ask.

Savabeel has again proved popular with breeders this season and his high-quality book included Shynzi (dam of Gr 1 Cox Plate winner Maldivian), Gr 3 Churchill Stakes winner winner Justine Coup, Gr 3 Cuddle Stakes winner Rhysess, Vanessatheundressa (dam of stakes-winner Queen Sabeel), Gr 3 performer Deautche Express, multiple winners Ebony Babe, Bella Renza and Solo Flight, Rena Rush (daughter of former top filly Phillipa Rush), Barzar Babe (family of Gr 1 Turnbull Stakes winner Devil Moon), Night Star (dam of stakes-winner Plaudits), Zephyr Song (half-sister to Gr 2 Surround Stakes winner Glenview), Starry Angel (family of multiple Gr 1 winner Might And Power), Mi Steel (dam of Gr 1 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Mi Jubilee), stakes-winner Call Me Lily and Belle Nuite (dam of Gr 2 Rich Hill Mile winner Fiscal Madness.