Savabeel 3YO Impresses at Ruakaka

Media Release - Saturday June 19

Progressive three-year-old Witsabouthim provided the biggest glimpse yet of his undoubted ability as he came from last on the home corner to convincingly defeat his age group rivals over 1600m at Ruakaka on Saturday.

The well-bred son of Savabeel made it two wins in a row after breaking his maiden status over the same distance at Hastings last month, however he gave his many supporters cause for concern this time as he tailed the ten-horse field for the majority of proceedings.

Savabeel is the sire of Witsabouthim.

Rider Michael McNab didn’t panic as he angled the Tony Pike-trained runner to the outside in the home straight where he produced a sustained finishing burst that carried him to a dominant two-length victory.

Advertisement

Pike was thrilled with the win as he had been concerned during the race that his charge appeared to be labouring a little.

“I was a little worried as the early pattern of the racing was that you needed to be on the speed and here we were dropped out last,” he said.

“He didn’t jump that well as he stood in the gates for quite a long time, but he relaxed beautifully and when Michael clicked him up, he got to the leaders pretty quickly.

“When you see him relax like he does, it makes his future prospects over more ground very exciting.”

Pike will now send his charge to the spelling paddock for a short break before getting him ready for a summer campaign.

“He can have three or four weeks in the paddock now as he just won’t cop the true winter tracks,” Pike said.

“That will give him a chance to do some more growing and fill out his frame, before we bring him back in.

“While there has been plenty of interest in him, if he isn’t sold then we will just try to take him through the grades before tackling some of the better staying races here.

“He is pretty well graded, so we might even take him to Melbourne as the prizemoney there is too good to pass up if he can be competitive at the right level.”

Purchased by Pike for $250,000 out of the Waikato Stud draft during the Book 1 Sale at Karaka in 2019, Witsabouthim is the son of useful racemare Miracle Miss who won five races and was placed at Group Three level. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Marsden Cove Dental 3yo 1600m

Ruakaka Track: Dead(6) Time: 1:37.20
1
Witsabouthim
- 3g Savabeel (AUS) x Miracle Miss (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: M J Mc Nab 57.5
2
1.8
Igottadoitmyway
- 3f Super Easy (NZ) x Astrogal (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms Kim Knight Rdr: A J Calder 55.5
3
2.0
Lapel
- 3g Pins (AUS) x Costume (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: L H Satherley 57.5
4
2.3
Nonaame
- 3f Duelled (AUS) x You're Sensational (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: C R Isdale Rdr: A C Goindasamy 53
5
2.5
Mongolian Wings
- 3g Mongolian Khan (AUS) x Dolce Bella (NZ) (Postponed (USA))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: C J Grylls 58.5
6
3.0
Straightshooterdeb
- 3f Swiss Ace (AUS) x Badgirldeb (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy (USA))
Tnr: T R Powell Rdr: S T Collett 54
7
3.2
Whetu
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Tonality (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: S R Weatherley 57.5
8
8.8
Be Somebody
- 3g He's Remarkable (NZ) x Sometimes (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: C W Cole Rdr: T L Newman 54
9
11.6
Gregory
- 3g Sweynesse (AUS) x Talladega (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: T A Donaldson Rdr: S C Spratt 56
10
12.4
Barracuda
- 3g Complacent (AUS) x High Clarity (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: D B Hollinshead Rdr: J Kamaruddin 53
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Friday November 22
Here is the full list of 46 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Storyville Downs the Colts in G2 WA Guineas
The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Another Feature Win for La Crique
La Crique sprouted wings in the Pukekohe straight on Saturday to come from a near-hopeless position and win the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in a photo finish.
Xtravagant Gelding Nadal Brilliant in Meteorite
Ciaron Maher has a stranglehold on pop-up and slot races and was back in the winner's circle again after the inaugural running of the $1,000,000 The Ladbrokes Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
Wings Of Song Makes Stunning Return
A star of the carnivals in Tasmania and South Australia, Wings Of Song made a triumphant return from a 30-week break to capture Saturday’s Rosemont Stud Pendant (1400m) at Cranbourne.
Kiwi Bred Comeback King Globe wins Cranbourne Cup
The super-talented Globe put a troubled 14 months behind him with a powerful all-the-way win in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).