Smart 3YO in Derby contention
Regally-bred Savabeel three-year-old The Chosen One might be on a plane to Australia next week.
Following his impressive win in today’s Gr.3 Manawatu Classic, his connections will ponder a tilt at next weekend’s Gr.1 Australian Derby.
“We will have to have a think about that,” co-trainer Murray Baker said.
“If he was to go to Randwick, we would have to fly him over on Tuesday. “I was confident of a big run today though.“
The Chosen One was part of a four-strong challenge on the race for the stable.
“I thought they all had a show as they were fit horses and had run well with their previous form,” Baker said.
“It’s always good to come back and race and win here.”
The Chosen One is owned by a large group that includes his breeders Joe, Martin, Ray and Tony Dennis.
He the first foal of outstanding South Island race mare, The Glitzy One, who won eight races and was stakes-placed on multiple occasions.
The brothers have enjoyed an outstanding run of success with the family of The Chosen One.
It includes his third dam The Jewel, an O’Reilly mare who was a two-time Group 1 winner of the New Zealand 10000 Guineas and the Waikato International Stakes.
The Corner with Garry Chittick
No Corner last week; this week the Annual Thoroughbred Racing Awards night certainly deserves acknowledgment. It is the second of two nights of measurement of Thoroughbred achievements for the year, with the first focussing on our Breeders’ awards.
Read More
Savabeel’s Group 1 daughter Belle Cheval retired
Belle Cheval, by champion sire Savabeel, enjoyed a stellar career: placing in the NZ 1000 Guineas, winning the Almanzor Trophy and Uncle Remus Stakes, finishing second in The Kiwi, then claiming Group 1 glory in Australia’s Vinery Stud Stakes before retiring to broodmare duties.
Read More