Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Godolphin mare was runner-up in the Heineken-sponsored sprint feature 12 months ago and she went one better on Saturday, albeit by the barest of margins.
Savatiano has now won 13 times and five of those successes had come at Group 2 level in the Hot Danish S., Expressway S., Millie Fox S., Tristarc S. and the PB Lawrence S.
The 6-year-old had been kept on the fresh side since triumphing in the Expressway to open her current campaign and a trial outing at Canterbury Park ensured she was ready to go again at Randwick.
Savatiano was given a cosy run in behind the leader Samadoubt (Not A Single Doubt) and she surged through to the hit the front 200 metres from home and, as always, found the line genuinely to win for the 13th time in her career.
“It was a high-quality race today and she’s been knocking on the door. She’s a multiple Group 2 winner and that’s her optimum distance," rider Hugh Bowman said.
“All credit goes to her because when I asked her to really go on and win the race at the 300 metre mark she certainly did it with authority.
“All credit goes to her (Savatiano) because when I asked her to really go on and win the race at the 300 metre mark she certainly did it with authority.” – Hugh Bowman
“I was expecting some competition late in the piece and when Mizzy came, Savatiano showed her fighting qualities and won with authority in the end.”
Savatiano, whose stakes earnings are now within touching distance of $2.5 million, is a Godolphin homebred and is a half-sister to the dual Listed winner and multiple Group placegetter Athiri (Lonhro).
They are out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Retsina, a daughter of the G1 QTC Sires’ Produce S. winner and G1 Coolmore Classic runner-up Star Shiraz (Sequalo).
Retsina produced a colt by Street Boss (USA) last year and was subsequently served by Darley shuttle stallion Blue Point (Ire).
Hugh Bowman and Savatiano
Runner-up Mizzy (Zoustar) produced a much-improved effort by charging home late for second following two previous inglorious performances with jockey Regan Bayliss describing it as a tenacious effort.
Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) ran home well for third after a tardy beginning and the winner’s stablemate and favourite Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) also blew the start and thrilled rider Glen Boss by getting home for fourth.
“I thought he went outstanding, he reared badly at the start and missed it by 1.5l,” he said. “It wasn’t so much that ground as the first furlong he completely got it wrong. It’s the first time he’s done that. He raced very fresh. All-in-all, he went very well.”
