Top Savabeel mare retired

7 November 2016

Savabeel’s outstanding daughter Lucia Valentina has run her last race. A leg injury has forced her retirement and she will now begin the second phase of her career with a booking to the champion sire Fastnet Rock.

Raced by Wellingtonian Lib Petagna, the daughter of Savabeel won the Vinery Stud Stakes and the Turnbull Stakes in 2014 and earlier this year she also claimed the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for trainer Kris Lees. Lucia Valentina won her first two races, including the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes from Stephen Marsh’s stable before she crossed the Tasman.

A $60,000 yearling at Karaka, Lucia Valentina is out of the Montjeu mare Staryn Glen, also the dam of the Gr 3 Manawatu Classic winner Malandrino, who has continued his career as Best Show in Hong Kong. It is also the family of the Gr 1 Hong Kong Sprint winner All Thrills Too.

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The Corner with Garry Chittick

The writing of my Corner started many years ago, motivated by an irritation that I felt needed scratching. It was never my intention to make my commentary regular; neither did I intend to reinvent the direction of racing administration. It is both disappointing and ironical that what should be a simple, straightforward business provides a regular need for comment.

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