Savabeel’s Son Back In Gr.1 Business

11 February 2013

Savabeel’s star staying son Sangster added to his top-flight record at Te Rapa on Saturday with another dominant Gr 1 victory.

The four-year-old was far too good for his weight-for-age rivals in the Darci Brahma International Stakes.The winner of the VRC Derby has been patiently handled since his Flemington success and was turned out after he had performed below par the following autumn.

Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have brought him slowly to top form again and with the prospect of further Gr 1 honours next month.

“We’ve been mindful of getting him into the Auckland Cup with a winning weight and very wary of the hard tracks,” Busuttin said. “He’s never really let down on them before but today he has. The race was run to suit with good tempo and he’s a solid stayer.”

Sangster and Opie Bosson raced away in the straight to score by two and three-quarter lengths. “We’ll probably back him up now in the Avondale Cup next weekend,” Busuttin said. “He’s a big, gross horse who needs his racing and Opie is the best in the business – he’s proved that again today.”

Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle

A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.

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Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding

Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.

Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.