Winning strike for Savabeel 3YO
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.
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Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.
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