Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) will get the chance to become the third-straight New Zealand-trained filly to win the G1 Australian Oaks at The Championships after posting an emphatic win in Saturday's G1 New Zealand Oaks. As the field spread out down the back of the course, Savvy Coup found herself in the two path in the fourth flight of horses and about six lengths off the lead. The mare traveled with zeal and pulled herself within four lengths of the lead passing the 800. Swinging four wide turning for home, Savvy Coup was never given more than a shake of the reins to take up the lead from Contessa Vanessa (Aus) (Bullbars {Aus}) inside the final furlong and win by 1 1/4 lengths under wraps.
Rider Chris Johnson, who had the choice between riding the winner and the runner-up, told nzracing.co.nz, “I've been lucky enough to ride the two best fillies and I got on the right one. She's tough and very talented. I couldn't really hang on to her much longer, I would have preferred to wait but the pace steadied and I didn't want to get too far off them when they quickened.”
Savvy Coup finished third over a mile in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic on Jan. 27 and has clearly enjoyed the increase in distance since, winning the 2100 metre G3 Lowland S. en route to this 2400 metre victory.
Pedigree Notes…
Savvy Coup is the second foal for the unraced Eudora (Aus) (Pins {Aus}), a full-sister to the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Legless Veuve (Aus) and group winner and producer Tootsie (Aus). Eudora has a yearling colt by Savabeel (Aus) and a colt foal by Ocean Park (NZ).
Saturday, Trentham, New Zealand
NEW ZEALAND OAKS-G1, NZ$400,000, WRC, 3-17, 3yo, f, Open Set Weight, 2400mT, 2:29.03, Good.
1–SAVVY COUP, 56.5, f, 3, by Savabeel (AUS)
1st Dam: Eudora, by Pins (AUS)
2nd Dam: Hyades, by O'Reilly
3rd Dam: Habania (GB), by Habat (IRE)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (NZ$65,000 Ylg 2016 NZB National Yearling
Sale) O-Mrs A M, A R, C J, F H & J F Bruford, Mrs J D, L R & R A
Coupland; B-Waikato Stud Ltd; T-M & M Pitman; J-C W
Johnson; NZ$231,250. Lifetime Record: 12-5-1-3, NZ$447,750.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Contessa Vanessa, 56.5, f, 3, Bullbars (AUS)–Di Lusso (AUS),
by Lonhro (AUS). (NZ$50,000 Ylg 2016 NZB National Yearling
Sale) O-B W Amies, D W Lake, G A Rogerson Mnzm, L H M
Salvidge & D Wenham; B-Robhar Breeding & Racing, Waikato,
NZ; T-Team Rogerson; J-J Parkes; NZ$74,000.
3–Milseain, 56.5, f, 3, Tavistock–Bagalollies (AUS), by Zabeel.
(NZ$300,000 Ylg 2016 NZB National Yearling Sale) O-Sona
Bloodstock, R L & S M Pitstock; B-C D Allison, C V & J A Barnao,
A R Campbell, T G Heptinstall, T M Pivac & D R Platt, Central,
NZ; T-M Baker & A Forsman; J-J L Waddell; NZ$37,000.
Margins: 1.3 len, 2.6 len, 3.4 len. Odds: 1.60, 8.60, 4.70.
Also Ran: Caricature, Mark Two, Marcellina, Belle du Nord, Terra Sancta, Gold Spice, Le Sablier, Misstumut, Lincoln Melody, Hasahalo, Swing Note (AUS), Hot Fuss.
Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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