Savaglee sizzles on return

Savaglee returning to scale in the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes

Star Waikato Stud graduate Savaglee (ex Glee) was in a league of his own on Saturday when he successfully resumed at Trentham.

The outstanding colt returned from a break in the Gr.2 Levin Classic and the son of Savabeel was untouched to add the three-year-old feature to his record.

The Pam Gerard-trained Savaglee was making his first appearance since romping to victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and now has seven wins from 13 starts.

“It was amazing, really cool and I’m so happy for (owner) The Oaks, he’s a super colt and he’s just getting better and better,” Gerard said.

Savaglee’s main aim this preparation is the Gr.1 Australian Guineas at Flemington and will have at least one more domestic start.

“He can take on the older horses in the BCD Group Sprint, but he is a colt and if he needs another run then the Karaka Millions would be that race,” Gerard said.

On his return at Trentham, Savaglee jumped quickly and settled in second spot before assuming control 250 metres.

Jockey Sam Spratt was thereafter in the fun zone as they coasted home by

“He got a perfect run, but even if he was last he would still have been able to smoke them,” Spratt said.

“He is getting better and better with every start.”

Savaglee is raced by The Oaks Stud’s Dick Karreman and was purchased out of Waikato Stud’s draft by Rick Williams at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $400,000.

The colt is out of the O’Reilly mare Glee, whose yearling sister to Savaglee has been retained and named Gleeful.

Glee is a half-sister to the dam of dual Group 1 winner Orchestral and the family of fellow
elite-level winners Daffodil, Atishu, Aegon and Good Faith.

https://twitter.com/WaikatoStud/status/1877927956317901297

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