Savvy effort lands another win

With the benefit of a first-up run under his belt, the reliable Savvy Sovereign was successful on Thursday over 1300 metres at Wangaratta.

The Savabeel four-year-old, who had finished third when resuming at Casterton last month, overcame an awkward draw to score under 61kg for leading trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and rider Michael Poy.

He was caught three wide on the pace from a wide gate, but was going well on the turn and had enough in reserve to claim the major prize after hitting the front 250 metres from home.

The Waikato Stud-bred Savvy Sovereign has won twice in his 12-start career and has also posted a further seven minor placings.

“I was caught wide with no cover and he’s a horse that can over race so I didn’t want to drive to the lead,” Poy said.

“I kept him in a nice rhythm and he picked the leaders up quite quickly and was strong to the line.”

Savvy Sovereign was a $150,000 Karaka graduate and is out of the winning O’Reilly mare Tiara, who is a granddaughter of the G1 Auckland Cup winner Royal Tiara.

Tiara has an unraced Savabeel three-year-old named Von Hauke, who was sold to trainer Cliff Brown at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for A$190,000 and produced a Super Seth colt last year.