Photo: Race Images South
Group One winner Savaglee (Savabeel) has been retired from racing and a new home is being sought for the four-year-old entire as he transitions to a career at stud.
Bred by Waikato Stud, Savaglee is by their Champion Stallion Savabeel and out of Glee, a full-sister to Group Three performer Symphonic, the dam of dual Group One winner Orchestral.
They offered him through their 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he attracted the eye of The Oaks Stud’s General Manager Rick Williams, who went to $400,000 to secure him on behalf of the farm’s principal Dick Karreman.
“He had a great head and eye and she (dam) was from a great family,” Williams said. “He has turned out to be a full-brother in blood to Orchestral, and there are four or five Group One winners in the first three dams, and many of the top horses from that family have been by Savabeel.
“There was no surprise in terms of pedigree to go and buy him, he was a beautifully balanced horse, he wasn’t too big and we were lucky to get him, it was my last bid, and sometimes you get lucky.”
Williams bought him as a stallion prospect and his deeds on the track cemented that role, winning seven of his 17 starts for trainer Pam Gerard, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), and following his placing in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) he crossed the Tasman and came within three-quarters of a length of Feroce in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
He was hampered by issues as a four-year-old and failed to return to his three-year-old form, finishing unplaced in the BCD Group Sprint and Rabobank Cup (1400m) at Taupo last month, and a decision was made to retire him following findings after his last start.
“He just had a little bit of a fusion in the joint after Taupo so we have retired him and he will go to stud,” Williams said.
“He was an absolute standout and the form around him in the Australian Guineas was great.
“He was a very good two-year-old, he ran in the best races and was finishing third and fourth. He won a Group Three (Matamata Slipper, 1200m), but like most Savabeels, they improve a lot from two to three.
“He has got a pedigree to die for, it is phenomenal. He is a prime candidate to go to stud.
“I am not sure yet whether we stand him or sell him, but we will probably sell him. There are just a number of things with the sale of the farm, there are a few irons in the fire.”
While Williams expects Savaglee to attract interest from stud farms on both sides of the Tasman, particularly given his Australian Guineas runner-up effort, he said he would prefer him to remain in New Zealand where the farm can support him with their mares.
“I remember being at the sales the next day (after Australian Guineas) at Oaklands Junction and a number of Australian trainers came up and said, ‘what a brave run’,” Williams said. “They recognise him over there, so he is a possibility to stand over there I am sure.
“I would like him to stand in New Zealand because even if we sell him to another farm, we will probably stay in him. We will work through that over the next few days, it (retirement) has only just happened.
“We love the horse, he is a wonderfully intelligent animal, and I am sure he will be very successful in stage two of his career.”
