Savabeel’s memorable G1 Cox Plate victory set him up for what has become a remarkable stud career and central to the Champion Sire’s story is the inimitable Graeme Rogerson, a horseman of many talents and extraordinary drive.
In 2004, Savabeel became the first 3-year-old to win the Cox Plate since Octagonal (NZ) triumphed in 1995 and Rogerson was a key figure as the co-breeder, part-owner and trainer of the Zabeel (NZ) colt.
Based at Tuhikaramea, Hamilton, Rogerson also trained Savabeel’s mother Savannah Success (NZ) (Success Express {USA}), who he bought for NZ$21,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka in 1997.
Savannah Success was raced by an ownership group that included Rogerson and Glenlogan Park’s Jon Haseler and was a gifted performer, who went on to win eight races including the G1 Ansett Australia S. and the G1 New Zealand Oaks.
“She was a very good racehorse and we put Savannah Success to Zabeel and then sold the mare to Gerry Harvey with the colt foal at foot. He paid a bit of money, but he did well,” Rogerson said.
“She was a very good racehorse and we put Savannah Success to Zabeel and then sold the mare to Gerry Harvey with the colt foal at foot.” – Graeme Rogerson
When Savabeel was put through the ring at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2003, Rogerson had the final say.
“I bought him at the Magic Millions Sale for $400,000 and was the major shareholder,” Rogerson said. “He was a very, very good horse right from the start and won his first start as a 2-year-old.
“He always showed a lot of ability and we could have gelded him, but didn’t. He was a little bit wayward early and he came right and boy, could he run sectionals – he was top quality.
“He was a beautiful-natured horse and just wanted to play all the time.”
Savabeel also finished third in the G1 Champagne S. as a juvenile and following a break was second in the G2 Gloaming S., before stamping himself among the best 3-year-olds.
“He won the G1 Spring Champion S. and that qualified him for the Cox Plate. He was a good thing on weights and times,” said Rogerson, who at the time was running a Trans-tasman training operation with 100 boxes at Randwick.
Rogerson wasn’t backward in telling all and sundry that Savabeel would win the Cox Plate and his prophecies were fulfilled when the colt beat Fields Of Omagh (Rubiton) and Starcraft (NZ) in the hands of Chris Munce.
“I keep it to myself now as I’ve got older, but they all asked me at the Breakfast of the Stars and I said he was unbeatable.”
“I keep it to myself now as I’ve got older, but they all asked me at the Breakfast of the Stars and I said he (Savabeel) was unbeatable.” – Graeme Rogerson
Savabeel was then a luckless second in the G1 VRC Derby before a spell and was runner-up resuming in the G1 CF Orr S. and Waikato Stud subsequently negotiated a deal to purchase him.
Watch: Savabeel win the 2004 Cox Plate
“The stud bought half of him and syndicated a quarter and I kept a quarter and sold off shares. I’ve sent a couple of mares to him every year since and everyone has done very well out of him,” Rogerson said.
“Mark and Garry Chittick deserve all the accolades. The horse had his knockers early on and as he’s got older everyone wants part of him.
“We go there regularly to see the old boy. He’s doing a great job and leaves good ones every year. I saw him the other day and he is a credit to Waikato Stud, he looks magic. He’s been great for New Zealand as well.
“I bought a couple of really nice Savabeel colts at Karaka this year, hopefully one of them will be the next Savabeel.”
Memorable Oaks
With wife Debbie, Rogerson also had the honour of training the stallion’s first Group 1 winner when Scarlett Lady (NZ), who was raced by Savabeel co-owner Max Whitby, triumphed in the Queensland Oaks.
“She was a good filly and gave James McDonald his first Group 1 winner in Australia as well,” he said.
The enterprising Rogerson has enjoyed a long and successful training career and ran a stable in Dubai for two and a half years before the 34-hour round trip took its toll.
He also stood the Group 1-producing Redoute’s Choice stallion Duelled at Dormello Stud for a time and has trained standardbreds and driven in non-tote races.
Commanding figure
Savabeel is a dominant force, as evidenced by his remarkable record – he’s won the Grosvenor Award (Champion New Zealand Sire) for six consecutive seasons.
He has also won five Centaine Awards (worldwide progeny earnings for a New Zealand-based sire) and four Dewar Awards (for Australasian progeny earnings) and currently leads in all three stallion divisions again.
Savabeel | Standing at Waikato Stud
Savabeel has also propelled Waikato Stud to be the leading vendor at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka for seven straight years.
“Obviously, we are all extremely proud of what he has achieved. It’s never been a secret that he was the first NZ$10 million syndicated horse to come to New Zealand,” Mark Chittick told TDN AusNZ.
“The support we had in purchasing him and getting him syndicated was incredible all the way through. We’ve all had a great ride with him and continue to do so.”
“The support we had in purchasing him (Savabeel) and getting him syndicated was incredible all the way through. We’ve all had a great ride with him and continue to do so.” - Mark Chittick
Savabeel has sired 23 individual Group 1 winners from 1200 to 3200 metres, 115 stakes winners and 72 Group winners and has a 72.1 per cent winners to runners ratio and 11 per cent stakes winners to runners ratio.
His most prolific top-flight winner has been the Allan Sharrock-trained Kawi (NZ) with seven victories while Lucia Valentina (NZ), Sangster (NZ), Probabeel (NZ), Soriano (NZ), Scarlett Lady (NZ), Savvy Coup (NZ), Shillelagh (NZ) and Costume (NZ) have all been multiple winners at the top level.
