Winning strike for Savabeel 3YO

Savabeel

Okataina produced a gallant effort to shed his maiden tag at Kembla Grange on Saturday afternoon.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained son of Savabeel had been a multiple placegetter before breaking through with a dominant front-running performance over 1600 metres.

Okataina was quickly into stride to make the running under rider Adam Hyeronimus and was cruising at the top of the straight.

The three-year-old forged clear with 350 metres to run and held a sustained gallop to score at his eighth appearance.

He was bred by Waikato Stud, who remain in the ownership group, and is the first foal of the American-bred Shackleford mare Mystery Lake.

She is a half-sister to the stakes winner Great Notion and a family that has made its black type mark in New Zealand through the Listed winners One Kiss (Canterbury Belle S.) and Santa Catarina (Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre S.).

Mystery Lake’s Savabeel colt was sold to trainer Anthony Cummings for A$200,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

She produced a Savabeel filly last year and is in foal to Super Seth.

https://twitter.com/WaikatoStud/status/1662324566809804801

Recent News
1 August 2026

Noverre opens new season in winning fashion

Noverre’s three-year-old Spill It (ex Ivy’s Court) opened the new season with a win at Riccarton, flying home over 1200m for Anna Furlong and the Lines family. A $32,500 Karaka yearling, he’s now banked $26,600 from just two starts.

Read More
31 July 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

Are there any benefits in growing older. Well, so long as your memory has not yet failed, then there is the knowledge accumulated from past experience. Like me, many as we age, develop a strong sense of cynicism; you know, we’ve seen it all before. 

Read More