Savvy Dreams an Oaks improver for Trentham
Hastings trainer Guy Lowry has a history of rocking punters on big days at Trentham.
Back in 1999 he nailed a beauty when Miss Bailey won the Wellington Cup as a 142-1 roughie. He returned in 2016 with Adventador to win the Telegraph at 80-1 after he was joined by Grant Cullen in a training partnership.
They also won the 2014 Telegraph with Irish Fling but she was pretty well favoured paying $8.50.
Irish Fling, Adventador and this Saturday’s well fancied New Zealand Oaks candidate Savvy Dreams all have a common thread.
Hamilton supermarket proprietor Tony Rider is involved in the ownership of all three horses which had their beginnings at his Milan Park Stud near Cambridge.
A Manawatu dairy farmer before he got into the supermarket business and moved north, Rider breeds from a select band of broodmares and prepares a draft of yearlings each summer for Karaka.
He garnered a lot of thoroughbred knowledge from the likes of Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick and renowned bloodstock consultant Bruce Perry who referred him on to Lowry.
He has enjoyed much success from the Hastings stable but a Group I NZ Oaks win would be right up there.
Lowry said they head towards the Oaks with a bit of confidence after their home track second to Oaks favourite Bonneval ($3.50) in the Group III Lowland Stakes (2100m) at her last start.
‘‘We’ve always known she has the ability and we planned the Oaks from when she was an autumn 2-year-old,’’ Lowry said.
‘‘We’ve had a skeleton prep but we are here – we had four starts before the Lowland but all with outside draws.’’
Thursday’s Auckland Cup winning jockey Leith Innes will ride Savvy Dreams from barrier three in the Oaks which should ensure an economical run.
‘‘I think in the Oaks, if we get in early, hopefully we can turn the tables but we have that good draw and she has never been surrounded by horses in her life, so that will be interesting.’’
The Savabeel filly has come through the Lowland in good order and was given a searching gallop over 1600m on the course proper at the Hastings track last Monday.
She was timed to run the last 1200m in 1:17.5, which was a good time considering the very heavy track conditions.
"She hasn’t left an oat since and is very well – all we need now is a bit of luck and a good track although we know Bonneval is going to be very tough to beat."