Karaka Graduate Savaria (NZ) In Form With Wellington Cup Win

With a half-brother catalogued for the Select Sale, high-class Karaka graduate Savaria (NZ) (Savabeel) made a timely and welcome return to top form when she scored a stirring win in Saturday’s $250,000 Group 3 Wallaceville Estate Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham.

The winner of the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at the same track in March 2015, Savaria had picked up just one win in 17 subsequent starts. But luck has not always been on her side, and she always gave the impression that a breakthrough performance was not far away. Saturday was that day.

Seeing out the ultimate staying distance of 3200 metres stronger than any other runner in the field, Savaria and her regular rider Hayden Tinsley dashed down the outside in the straight to claim a half-head victory over Jacksstar (NZ) (Zed).

“She’s a good mare,” trainer Roydon Bergerson said. “Her runs had been good along the way, without a lot of luck or on unsuitable wet ground. She needs good ground and she got it today. She got the last run at them and it was a great win.”

Savaria has now had 24 starts for five wins, six placings and more than $430,000 in prize-money.

Bred by Monty and Judy Henderson, Savaria is out of the O’Reilly mare Amathea (NZ), who is also the dam of the highly promising Interstellar (NZ) (Shamoline Warrior).

Savaria was offered by Bluegables Farm at the 2013 Premier Sale, where owners Des and Kaye Fleming bought her for $110,000.

Trelawney Stud will offer the half-brother at Karaka 2017, with a Niagara colt going through the ring as Lot 523 in the Select Sale.

All of the first three horses home in Saturday’s Wellington Cup have a sibling nominated for Karaka 2017.

Little Avondale will offer a Per Incanto half-brother to the runner-up Jacksstar, going through the ring as Lot 426 in the Premier Sale.

The third-placed Perfect Start (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) has a Guillotine half-brother catalogued as Lot 539 in the Select Sale.