Savvy performance reverses fortunes

Savvy Man had few favours when he was unplaced on debut and he made his own luck at Riccarton over 1600 metres on Thursday afternoon to emphasise his potential.

The Waikato Stud-bred and sold son of Savabeel was badly held up in the straight at Wingatui last month, but this time rider Michael McNab removed luck from the equation aboard the warm favourite.

They settled a clear last before improving wide 600 metres from home and the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained four-year-old roared home in the straight to win going away by 2.5l.

Savvy Man was sold by Ohukia Lodge on behalf of Waikato Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale for $135,000 with Michael Pitman signing the ticket.

He is the last foal of O’Reilly mare Merrily and is a brother to the Listed Wellesley S. winner and Group performer Exuberant and a half-brother to the Pins mare Happily who was successful in Australia.

Merrily is out of a half-sister to the dam of the G1 Galaxy H. winner and producer Magnus and the family of the undefeated champion sprinter Black Caviar, whose half-brother All Too Hard was a multiple Group 1 winner before a successful career at stud.