Johnson’s savvy tip an Oaks coup
OUTSTANDING filly Savvy Coup has the right credentials to continue New Zealand’s run of success in next month’s A$1 million Australian Oaks (2400m).
The daughter of Savabeel bagged the first leg of a prized double yesterday with a sublime performance to claim victory in the $400,000 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham and will step out next in the Randwick feature on April 14.
‘‘The way she won today we have to go, she’s a very fit horse and the last two winners have done the same thing, so we’ll take that path as well,’’ said Matthew Pitman, who trains Savvy Coup with his father Michael at Riccarton.
Stephen Marsh’s Sofia Rosa was relegated to second behind Fanatic in the 2016 New Zealand Oaks before winning the Sydney classic and the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-prepared Bonneval won both Group Ones last season.
Savvy Coup’s win completed a red letter day at Trentham for the stable, who had earlier enjoyed success in the Cuddle Stakes (1600m) with Montoya Star.
‘‘This is massive for us and all our team work incredibly hard,’’ Pitman said. ‘‘We’ve had an incredible year.’’
Savvy Coup provided rider Chris Johnson, who opted to ride the three-year-old over runner-up Contessa Vanessa, with his fifth Oaks winner.
‘‘I’ve been lucky enough to ride the two best fillies and I got on the right one,’’ the 53-year-old said.
‘‘She’s tough and very talented. Group Ones are hard to win, especially at my age.’’ Savvy Coup settled midfield on the outer before Johnson made his move 800m from home.
‘‘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,’’ Johnson said.
Savvy Coup drew alongside Contessa Vanessa 400m out before easing clear to win by a lengthand-a-quarter, with Milseain a similar distance back in third.
Caricature was on the pace all the way and stuck on grimly for fourth ahead of the maiden Mark Two, who made solid ground from midfield. Savvy Coup was bred by the Chittick family’s Waikato Stud and provided resident stallion Savabeel with his 17th individual Group One winner. New Zealand Bloodstock’s Insurance Advisor Jim Bruford purchased the filly for $65,000 from the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale. ● OUTSTANDING three-year-old Scott Base overcame a chequered home straight run to snatch victory by a camera pixel in the $100,000 Wellington Guineas (1400m).
The Dalghar gelding made his racetrack return following a slight setback that derailed his New Zealand Derby (2400m) aspirations earlier in the month.
Punters responded by installing him as a dominant favourite and were on good terms with themselves in the early stages of the contest as he received an economical trip in midfield throughout. In tight conditions over the TRISH DUNELL
‘ I’ve been lucky enough to ride the two best fillies and I got on the right one.’
concluding stages, rider Vinnie Colgan gathered his mount, and under a vigorous hands and heels ride, Scott Base drove hard to get in the winning bob to deny Paulownia on the line.
So close was the finish, veteran commentator Tony Lee originally plumped for the regally-bred Paulownia as the winner, before the photo-finish camera revealed the full sister to Group One winner Foxwedge had finished second to the ultra-game Scott Base.
‘‘I was standing on the running rail and I broke 10 seconds for the 100m dash to get in and see the result as I was keen on an inquiry if he was beaten,’’ Otaki co-trainer Johno Benner said.
‘‘Somehow he has got his beak down and he’s won it. He took that little 50m to wind up, but for him to bullock his way through and get that run, he’s a bit special.’’
Benner had been confident the gelding’s true qualities would show through after he made the decision to target the race following his Derby defection.
Benner wouldn’t be drawn on any immediate plans for the horse, who has now won four of his 12 starts, including the rich Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).