There will be more than just a little sense of déjà vu should Savigne (Ocean Park {NZ}) overcome her wide barrier and join her older half-brother Kermadec (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}) as a 3-year-old Group 1 winner in Saturday's Queensland Oaks at Doomben.
Savigne was bred by Wentwood Grange like Kermadec, but also races for the same interests, with Neville Morgan securing her at the yearling sales through Guy Mulcaster as he did her older half-brother.
Kermadec, now standing at Darley, proved an excellent ambassador for his New Zealand breeders and an excellent purchase for Mulcaster, Morgan and trainer Chris Waller, winning the G1 Doncaster Mile as a 3-year-old and the G1 George Main S. as a 4-year-old. He collected nearly $3m in prizemoney, with multiple Group 1 placings added into the mix.
After Kermadec's Doncaster win, Cambridge-based Wentwood Grange, run by the Hawkins' family, decided to send his dam, Hy Fuji (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}) through the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in foal to Ocean Park {NZ}).
Kermadec (NZ)
Wentwood Grange had purchased the stakes-winner for just $46,000 in foal to Teofilo {Ire}) at the 2011 Inglis Australian Sale, and having developed the resultant foal into a $260,000 yearling who would win two Group 1s, thought it was a good time to cash in.
But the Hawkins' expectations weren't met by the market, and she was passed in and sent to Bhima Thoroughbreds in Scone to foal down. The resultant filly, born in Australia, then arrived back at Wentwood Grange making an impression on stud manager Dean Hawkins.
"She was like the rest of the family in that they get better with age. She's was nice moving filly. She wasn't as big or robust as Kermadec himself. She was medium sized and was quite athletic and was more similar to Mum and threw more to Hy Fuji who was a stakes winner herself," he told TDN AusNZ.
"She was like the rest of the family in that they get better with age." - Wentwood Grange stud manager Dean Hawkins
She was the third straight filly from the mare, so with the family line secured, Wentwood Grange put her through the 2017 NZB Premier Sale at Karaka, where it was no surprise to see Mulcaster bidding for her.
"She was well liked, she was a half-sister to Kermadec and so she had that going for her. We were very pleased that Guy and Chris and Neville were able to buy her, and she was able to race in the same colours," Hawkins said.
"They had a couple of Ocean Parks as well, and they thought a bit of them as well. It all added up for them."
Watch: Savigne as a yearling
In the Waller system
Savigne fetched $200,000 and was given plenty of time by Waller to develop, not making her debut until Boxing Day last year when fourth in a Newcastle maiden.
After a couple of placings in her first campaign, she was freshened up and returned in April with the Queensland Oaks in mind. After three more placings, she broke through for her first win in impressive fashion at Canterbury over 1900m a couple of weeks back, booking her trip to the Sunshine State.
"Every time she has gone out, she's improved. Especially, when she started to get out over a bit more distance," Hawkins said.
"She has still got a little bit to learn from what we can see and being drawn an outside barrier (18) isn’t ideal. Hopefully it can help her stay out of trouble, but every start she is having, she's looking like a real staying filly, which is what the New Zealand bred horses do best."
"Every start she is having, she's looking like a real staying filly." - Dean Hawkins
Hy Fuji's best win came over a staying distance, in the Listed Tatts Plate, and Hawkins believes her filly can follow in her footsteps up to the 2200m for the first time on Saturday.
Hy Fuji family keeps producing
Hy Fuji herself is proving equally the stayer as a broodmare as she did on the track, still going at age 19. She missed to Savabeel last year and a decision on who she visits this year will be made in the next week.
Hy Fuji (yellow cap) winning at Randwick
"She's great. She empty this year but she's looking good for her age. She's 19. We’ve got a Teofilo colt, a full brother to Kermadec, who will go through the sales next year," Hawkins said.
"He's a really nice colt. He's got a bit more size than Savigne at the same stage and is developing in the right way and we are excited by him at this stage."
Stephen Marsh bought Hy Fuji's Tavistock (NZ) colt for $320,000 at the 2018 NZB Karaka Sales and reports on the now 2-year-old are also very positive.
And Wentwood Grange have already started with the next generation, with two daughters of Hy Fuji, Zoccoli d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}) and Lady Esperance (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) already having foals.
Zoccoli d'Oro's Teofilo (Ire) yearling filly, a three-quarter sister to Kermadec, sold to Busuttin Racing for $220,000 at this year's Karaka Sale. Both mares have weanling fillies to Iffraaj (GB).
"It’s been a great family to us and we are lucky that we have a couple of daughters, which is half the reason we decided to sell Savigne," Hawkins said.
