Trans-Tasman stakes double for Sav

Proving his influence shows no sign of slowing, ten-time Champion Sire and NZ Hall of Fame inductee Savabeel notched a commanding trans-Tasman stakes double, reinforcing his position as one of the most consistent and respected sires in the Southern Hemisphere.

Force Of Nature for Tony Rider’s Milan Park shot down the fence to claim the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint at Pukekohe for Andrew Forsman, giving Savabeel his 153rd stakes winner and closing in on his sire Zabeel’s 166.

Across in New Zealand at Ascot, it was Captain Pluto who collected the second black-type success of his career with a big finish to take out the A$125,000 Listed Luckygray Stakes (1800m). He has now had 29 starts for seven wins, 11 placings and A$447,755 in stakes.

Previously the winner of the Listed Bunbury Cup (2019m) in March, Captain Pluto had shown promising signs in the early stages of his six-year-old season with an eye-catching resuming run for sixth over 1400 metres before finishing strongly into third in the Listed Northam Cup (1600m) on October 26.

Captain Pluto was sent out as a $2 favourite for his third-up run on Saturday and duly delivered in the hands of jockey William Pike. He settled in midfield until the home turn, when Pike switched across heels to stake his claim out wide. Captain Pluto produced a powerful finish down the outside of the track and won impressively by a length.

“He’s returned really nicely in this preparation,” co-trainer Grant Williams said. “He put the writing on the wall with his first two starts this time in. I thought he went super first-up, and then he was good again in the Northam Cup last time.”