Savabeel’s son makes bold debut statement

Savabeel three-year-old Paternal had performed well in both of his trials and he carried that form over to race day on Wednesday afternoon with a perfect debut performance over 1400 metres at Newcastle.

A true-blue Waikato Stud product, the Chris Waller-trained newcomer settled toward the back of
the field and when asked the question in the run home by rider Jeff Penza, lengthened stride
impressively to power past his rivals.

“He jumped well and I went back to get some cover and I was going to switch out, but stayed in and
he was really strong late – he was very good,” Penza said.

Third behind Paternal was the Waikato Stud-bred The Replicant, a son of Tivaci and a $130,000 buy
for trainer Joseph Pride. The gelding is out of the O’Reilly mare Oahu and the Matamata farm will
offer her Ocean Park colt as Lot 455 during Book 1 at Karaka in March.

“Tivaci has got a big future and this is a horse with good talent,” Pride said.

Paternal had finished fourth in his most recent trial earlier this month when given an easy time at
Rosehill where he had won at his first outing in December.

He was a $280,000 Karaka purchase for Orbis Bloodstock and is out of the O’Reilly mare O’Dianne,
who was a juvenile winner and ran fourth in the Karaka Million. Both of her foals to race are now
winners – her first is The Mighty Spar, who has twice been successful.

O’Dianne, whose Savabeel filly named Avebury sold to John O’Shea at the Gold Coast last year for
A$200,000, is out of the G3 Frances Tressady S. winner Breezy and the family of the Waikato Stud-
bred multiple Group 1 winner and successful sire Starcraft.