Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
A full to a Derby winner but sharp over 1200 metres
It’s always a positive sign when a full-sibling to a G1 Australian Derby winner shows enough speed to win impressively at metropolitan level on debut over 1200 metres, and that is what the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 3-year-old Savagram (NZ) (Savabeel) managed to do under a positive ride by Tim Clark.
The full-brother to Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) had shown good talent at the Randwick trials in recent times, and even though he is a full to a Derby winner, there is plenty of speed and juvenile form within the pedigree.
Clark took Savagram straight to the front, with Spring Ruler (Wild Ruler) with Rachel King aboard outside him.
Onthetoe (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) settled in the trail, with the race favourite Lorax (Zoustar) settling back second to last on the outer.
Savagram winning at Canterbury | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Savagram kicked hard at the 300 metre mark and the result was never really in doubt as he dominated and scored by just under a length and a half from Cabtero (Spirit Of Boom), who ran on very well, with Threads (Snitzel) battling on from the one-one position to run third, with the favourite Lorax disappointing in fourth, more than five lengths behind the winner.
"He did a bit of work to get there, travelled lovely and quickened up nice," winning co-trainer Adrian Bott said.
"He (Savagram) did a bit of work to get there, travelled lovely and quickened up nice." - Adrian Bott
"That's what he's always shown us, that bit of class for a horse bred with a bit of stamina.
"He's got speed and a turn of foot to go with him. Today will teach him a lot and he will take plenty of confidence. That's not necessarily the way to ride the horse but the way the race set up that was the best way to approach it.
"It gives us another dimension to him."
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bott said there were clear plans for the 3-year-old, but the stable would consider major targets.
"No specific target yet but all those 3-year-old races will be in contention. I do think he's a colt of that quality," he said.
"We could try to take him through to a race like the Spring Champion. That would be a lovely race for him."
"We could try to take him (Savagram) through to a race like the Spring Champion. That would be a lovely race for him." - Adrian Bott
Winning jockey Tim Clark, who won the Australian Derby aboard his full-brother, was impressed, but also emphasised the differences in the siblings.
"He's probably a bit sharper than Major Beel and a bit stronger too. He's definitely a more imposing horse than Major Beel."
Sales info: Savagram was purchased for $325,000 by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2025 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Savagram after winning at Canterbury | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Pedigree info: Savagram is one of three winners out of the unraced O’Reilly (NZ) mare Gram (NZ). She has already proven herself an outstanding broodmare leaving the G1 Australian Derby winner Major Beel and the G3 Championship Stakes winner Sold Gold (NZ) (Savabeel), who also ran fourth in the G1 Queensland Oaks last season.
Gram is also very well-related, being out of the Group 2-winning juvenile Gold Rocks (Oratorio), and a half-sister to the Group 2-winner Gold Fever (NZ) (Savabeel), herself the dam of the Group 1 winner and R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO Classic winner La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth).
Another half-sister is the dual Listed winner Calaverite (Lonhro), the dam of the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile (Astern).
Gram has failed to produce a living foal since Savagram, but she is due to foal to Super Seth in mid-September.
Wanda sparkles at Canterbury
The Michael Freedman-trained 3-year-old filly Wanda’s Spark (Tagaloa) always looked hard to beat at Canterbury on the back of a very strong second on debut when well-backed on the Kensington on July 29 behind the progressive Sequinned (Pinatubo {Ire}) and defeating the highly-rated Eviction Notice (Stay Inside).
So it proved for the exciting Tagaloa filly as she showed she had improved off that performance and put in a professional effort to score by just under half a length after capitalising on a clever ride by Tommy Berry.
Berry took Wanda’s Spark straight to the front as he utilised her barrier draw of three. Strollin’ By (Farnan) strolled up to sit outside the leader, while Sam Clipperton slotted Affari (Home Affairs) into the trail, while the well-backed favourite Sing Your Song (Snitzel) settled worse than midfield on the outer.
Berry dictated affairs and was travelling sweetly upon straightening. McDonald must have feared that the tempo was not strong enough as he took off on Sing Your Song before the turn to put the filly into contention.
She loomed down the outside and took chase after Wanda’s Spark, as did the Home Affairs filly Affari after getting off heels, but in the end Berry held on well to score on Wanda’s Spark wearing the Yulong colours, with Affari just pipping Sing Your Song for second, with both those fillies worth following.
Wanda's Spark winning at Canterbury | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“She took nice benefit out of that last run,” said Michael Freedman’s stable representative Ben Duckworth.
“We had a really good opinion of her going into it and she still ran well, just got knocked off by one with a bit of race experience and was just a little bit vulnerable late.
“So, we were confident bringing her here today that she could execute and perform well.
“We were confident bringing her (Wanda's Spark) here today that she could execute and perform well.” - Ben Duckworth
“I think she's a very progressive filly and we can certainly see her extend out to sort of seven furlongs and maybe even a mile in time.
“That opens up plenty of doors for her this time of year. So I'm very happy with how she performed today and we'll just get her home and see how she pulls up.
“Assuming she pulls up well, a race like the Furious Stakes in a couple of weeks' time could be an option for her. But as I said, we'll just get her home and see how she gets through the run.”
Tommy Berry with Wanda's Spark after winning at Canterbury | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Winning jockey Tommy Berry was very pleased with the winning effort and explained that it was all pretty straightforward.
“Yeah, she's a natural,” said Berry.
“She's (Wanda's Spark) a natural.” - Tommy Berry
“She’s very progressive and a very easy horse to do anything with and look, the plan wasn't to lead today until Gai’s horse got scratched behind the barriers and that just changed my train of thought a little bit there wasn't too much else there that I would have wanted to follow in the race.
“I just didn't want to be the one kicking away by two or three, coming to the corner and I knew she'd have a good look around, so I let them sort of come up around me, help me get around the bend to balance her up, and then... went again.
“So sometimes you've got to have that patience and trust that you're good enough and she was favourite for a reason so great job by the team at home.”
Sales info: Wanda’s Spark was bred and is raced by Yulong Investments, having purchased her dam Wandabaa (Wandjina) for $800,000 via an Inglis online sale in 2022.
Wanda's Spark after winning at Canterbury | Image courtey of Georgia Young Photography
Pedigree info: Wanda’s Spark is the first foal out of the G3 Newmarket Handicap winner Wandabaa, who overall was an eight-time winner of just under $1 million in prize money.
Wandabaa is a half-sister to the Group 2 and Group 3 winner Olentia (Zoustar) and the dual Listed winning gelding Malkovich (Choisir), while the smart Listed Hong Kong Classic Mile winner Little Paradise (Toronado {Ire}) also features in the pedigree.
Wandabaa has in recent times produced a Tagaloa 2-year-old filly, a Pierata yearling colt and is due to foal to Pierata again in early November.
I Am Aria too classy at Bendigo
Te Akau Racing’s smart 2-year-old filly from last year I Am Aria (I Am Invincible) showed her class resuming as an early season 3-year-old with an arrogant win in a fresh state on a heavy Bendigo track in the hands of Michael Dee.
I Am Aria was precocious as a 2-year-old, placing third in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (fillies) on debut behind Rubi’s Choice (Rubick), before running second behind Streisand (Magnus) in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (fillies) and then finding the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes a step too far at her next start. It didn't go to plan that day after bursting through the barriers prior to the start, which understandably had a major effect on her performance.
After having a nice break, she got her win out of the way in a soft manner, which is sure to be a stepping stone for bigger and better things.
It was Lady Molly (Prized Icon) that led up, with Dee content to sit outside the leader, with Jye McNeil aboard the well-bred Novamira (Lucky Vega {Ire}) following I Am Aria every step of the way.
I Am Aria loomed ominously at the 300 metre mark and went to the lead and, under minimal urgings, scored by a length and a half. The daughter of the G1 Australian Oaks winner Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), Novamira was good in second, chasing hard, while Silent Devotion (Pinatubo {Ire}) in the Rosemont colours was solid in third.
I Am Aria winning at Bendigo | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
"It's always a relief to kick off the 3-year-old season like that," trainer Mark Walker said.
"She's got black type already, but it would be good to win a black yype race. She's got a beautiful pedigree, so it's onwards and upwards."
"She's (I Am Maria) got Black Type already, but it would be good to win a Black Type race. She's got a beautiful pedigree, so it's onwards and upwards." - Mark Walker
Walker said typically the stock of sire I Am Invincible gets better with age and he is hoping that is the case with I Am Aria.
"We put her aside after she had that hiccup in the Blue Diamond and she had a lovely spell," Walker said.
"(Assistant-trainer) Ben (Gleeson) and I have seen the development in her in the way she had been working, and she seems a more mature filly.
"We put her (I Am Aria)_ aside after she had that hiccup in the Blue Diamond and she had a lovely spell." - Mark Walker
"Hopefully, she can go a very good level, with a bit of luck."
Sales info: I Am Aria was purchased for $450,000 by Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
I Am Aria as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree info: I Am Aria is one of three winners out of the Listed 2-year-old winner and full-sister to the G1 Doncaster Handicap winner and stallion Brutal (NZ) in Talaria (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
The family is full of top quality performers, including the three-time Group 1 winner Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) and her R. Listed NZB Kiwi winning full-sister Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), as well as the Group 3-winning juvenile Cavalry Rose (Charge Forward) and the Group 2-winning juvenile Te Akau Rose (NZ) (Thorn Park).
Talaria in recent times has left a yearling filly by Farnan and was left empty last season.
Esha back in winning form in the Sunshine State
The Kia Ora and Hollymount Stud-owned 4-year-old mare Esha (Extreme Choice) started off her career as a 2-year-old and early 3-year-old, winning her first two starts from the Shane Nichols stable, and after losing form in stronger company the decision was made to move her to the Tony Gollan stable.
She ran a solid enough fourth first-up at Eagle Farm on July 25, and improved off that effort to score in solid fashion at the same venue on Wednesday afternoon.
In the hands of Ben Thompson, the well-bred mare was a touch slow jumping but eventually worked forward to sit in a distant trail as Tiger Tie (Harry Angel {Ire}) set a strong pace, with Port Erin (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) and Surreal Ascot (Kobayashi) prominent.
Approaching the bend, the pressure was on and Thompson was hunting a run on Esha. He persisted with a run and eventually got clear of heels and took chase solidly. She got to the lead and held nicely to score by just under a length from Port Erin and Tiger Tie, who stuck on well considering the toughish runs on-speed they had.
Sales info: Esha was sold by Newgate Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $900,000 to Kia Ora Stud and Shane Nichols Racing. She is raced by Kia Ora Stud and Hollymount Stud who bred her.
Esha as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: Esha is one of three winners out of the G1 Myer Classic winner I Am A Star, who won 10 races and over $1.5 million. These winners include Orion The Hunter (Deep Field) who has won seven times and the very exciting Celestial Charm (Extreme Choice) who was a winner as a 2-year-old and looks an exciting 3-year-old prospect. I Am A Star has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Extreme Choice and is due to foal to the outstanding stallion again any day now.
