After striking with the Savabeel filly Avebury in the Listed Canberra Guineas on Monday, John O’Shea took the wraps off the 2yo Savabeel debutant Ravello in the Arrowfield – A Tradition of Greatness Hcp (1400m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, Ravello tracked the leaders around the home turn. He hit the lead at the 150m before holding Fireburn’s strong finishing half-brother Kintyre (Hallowed Crown) by a neck with Inhibitions (Zoustar), a further three-quarter length back in third.
Stable representative Tom Charlton said there are suitable races for the son of Savabeel at the back end of the season or Queensland in the winter.
“He has always been a really nice horse. He is physically imposing and has probably been a bit babyish and lazy in his trials,” Charlton said.
“He got to show what he is all about today. He has a really good attitude.
“The owners, led by Lib Petanga, paid a good bit of money for him. He has a good pedigree and a petty good future doing that on debut over 1400m.”
A $425,000 purchase for Bruce Perry Bloodstock from the Cambridge Stud draft at the Karaka in 2022, Ravello is the first foal of multiple stakes-placed winner Cover Charge (USA) (Take Charge Indy).
Cover Charge’s dam All Too Many (Eskendereya) is a half-sister to Widden Stud’s Group II Australia Stakes winner Thronum from the family of Street Cry (IRE).
Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) shelled out $220,000 for a brother to Ravello from the Cambridge Stud draft at Karaka in January.
Sadly he is the final foal of Cover Charge (USA), who died at the age of six.