Savabeel’s son top of the 2YO tree
Sword Of Osman has taken pole position in the race for this season’s champion two-year-old honours. The slick son of Savabeel went to the top of the juvenile rankings when he produced another powerful front-running performance to win Saturday’s Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie off the back of his runaway success in the Group 3 Reid & Harrison Slipper (1200m).
Trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, Sword of Osman has now won three of his four starts with his sole defeat coming in the Karaka Million (1200m). Autridge said their pre-race Sistema plan was to let the gelding continue his customary pacemaking role and those instructions were perfectly executed by ride Opie Bosson, who had labelled the youngster a special talent before he had raced. “The whole race he relaxed beautifully in front,” Bosson said. “He changed legs a few times, but he just kept running. He’s very, very good.”
Sword Of Osman had a length and a quarter to spare on stablemate Avantage at the post with Spanish Whisper third ahead of Bocce. The favourite Melt ran sixth and looked to have her chance. “He’s amazing. He’s like a three-year-old now,” Bosson said. “I can’t wait for his three-year-old career.”
The Corner with Garry Chittick
The two of you will be aware of my ongoing concern as to the future of our sport. You could argue I have a vested interest; well, I did have, but my interest now is to give the future generations the opportunity my generation had. Now I can tell you, hand on heart, there were many financial thin times. 1975 was my fledgling start with five mares on 130 acres that occasionally flooded with the well-bred, non-race-winning Super Gray.
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From a pedigree known all too well by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, 3yo Savabeel colt Savagram (NZ) kicked off his race career in the best possible way, highlighting himself as a potential black-type performer.
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