Savabeel’s daughter too good again

Glamour Savabeel filly Orchestral complemented her outstanding domestic form with a debut Australian top-flight success in Saturday’s G1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill.

Roger James and Robert Wellwood’s pin-up girl was unbeaten in her last four starts at home, including an effortless victory in the G1 New Zealand Derby, before heading to Sydney, where she continued her winning habit.

Orchestral raced in fifth spot off the fence before peeling three wide into the straight and produced an irresistible finish to again claim top honours.

“We’re very proud, she tracked into it, and she was very tough,” Wellwood said.

“It was a great effort coming back from 2400 metres to 2000 metres, and her residual fitness kicked in.”

Orchestral’s next target has yet to be confirmed, but Wellwood said the G1 Australian Oaks was still the most likely option.

James McDonald also continued his unbeaten association with the filly, having partnered her to an effortless victory in the Listed Karaka Millions in late January.

“She showed how tough she is (today) and had to do all the donkey work to cart them up. She didn’t corner all that well and was then a sitting duck so to do that was incredible,” he said.

“She had a bit of a blow and showed her class out there.”

Orchestral is out of the stakes-placed O’Reilly mare Symphonic, whose full-sister Glee produced the recent Waikato Stud-bred G3 Matamata Slipper winner Savaglee.

Daffodil, Atishu and Aegon are also Group 1-winning graduates of the Matamata farm on this pedigree page.

She was bred by Barneswood Farm and offered by Haunui Farm at Karaka in 2022, where James and Wellwood secured her for $625,000 on behalf of Hamilton owners Colin and Helen Litt.