(SAVABEEL 3yo Brown Colt 16.1hh Zabeel / Savannah Success)
The spring of 2004 saw the outstanding colt Savabeel (ex Savannah Success, by Success Express) storm the race track with first a win over his own age group in the Spring Champion Stakes (Group I) at Randwick and then a stunning victory in the weight-for-age W. S. Cox Plate (Group I) at Moonee Valley, over the older horses.
Savabeel, trained by Graeme Rogerson, won the classic weight-for-age race of the Australasian spring by 1L proving his class over a field of proven Group I performers. It was an excellent race by the young colt and he then went onto run a gallant second in the VRC Victoria Derby (Group I) at Flemington a week later.
The only three-year-olds in the last 19 years to succeed in winning the testing 2040m of the W.S. Cox Plate have been Zabeel’s champion of 1996 Octagonal, and now in 2004 Savabeel.
From the very beginning the team of specialists at Graeme Rogerson’s stables had a driving belief that the stunning brown colt catalogued as Lot 130 at the Magic Millions Sales of 2003 had an aura about him that could deliver greatness.
Whether it was his stunning looks, his ideal conformation, they way he walked or even the way he stood and looked at you - there was something special in the colt.
Having been expertly raised on the superb pastures of Baramul Stud and being presented at the sale yards in immaculate condition, team Rogerson confirmed that this was the colt they had to take home.
Graeme was convinced the colts dam Savannah Success was one of the most gifted fillies he had ever trained and was even more adamant she could produce a superstar. Savannah Success’s race form backed up his opinion. Savannah Success was a race filly that won 8 races (6 in a row) from 1100m to 2400m. Included in her triumphs were two Group 1 victories at 1500m and 2400m, two Group 2 victories, a Group 3 victory and two Listed Races to her credit.
How right Graeme’s theories proved to be.
After a hotly contested bidding war in the ring, the hammer came down on Graeme Rogerson’s bid at $400,000.
Within 48 hours the colt was sold down to Graeme’s loyal clients whom appreciated what Graeme and his team saw in the colt. A syndicate of 5 was created to race the colt which they named SAVABEEL.
From the time the breakers completed their task the buzz on the colt was terrific.
Graeme believed that the colt was a precocious individual and he also had a theory on Zabeel’s progeny ?“Despite being at their best as a 3yo and 4yo, Zabeel’s stock needed to worked along as 2yo’s.?
SAVABEEL’S 2yo Career
So with this in mind Graeme put the colt into work with the view of taking him to the first set of 2yo trials of the season at Canterbury.
He lined up in heat 4 and ran a gallant second over 850m in the fastest time of the morning. At the time, we commented that “the horse that won the heat must have been special to beat Savabeel?That colt turned out to be Dance Hero !
Savabeel was sent for a spell and then commenced his racing career in February 2004 at Saturday meeting at Randwick over 1000m.
The colt got back to last in the field but stormed home to win by an authoritive 4.5 lengths.
Savabeel finished his 2yo season running a gallant 3rd to Dance Hero and Wager in the Group 1 AJC Champagne Stakes over 1600m.
SAVABEEL’S 3yo Career
Spring 2004
Savabeel showed his true class and what an exciting prospect he was in the making when he resumed running 4th in the Group 2 San Domenico Stakes at Randwick over 1000m.
That race turned out to be one of the highlights of the early spring when in a driving finish Charge Forward just defeated Fastnet Rock and a close up Dance Hero.
At his next start he was the most unlucky runner of the race when he ran a very close up 5th in the STC $1m Golden Rose Stakes 1400m. Savabeel got back to second last in the big field but started to storm home in the closing stages but was badly held up for a run and had no luck trying to get a clear passage.
At his third start, Savabeel stepped out in the Group 2 Gloaming Stakes over 1800m. Again getting back to the tail of the field he unleashed a powerful finish to run a gallant 2nd to Al Maher but easily accounted for Outback Prince and Cedar Manor.
His fourth start he was at his peak leading into the Group 1 AJC Spring Champion Stakes 2000m. In this event he was able to travel a lot closer to the speed and powered away in the straight to score a decisive victory over Outback Prince, Cedar Manor and turned the tables on Al Maher who ran 4th.
Graeme Rogerson then took the horse to Melbourne for the Cox Plate.
Graeme and his team had an unyielding faith that the colt was the best in the country at the distance and would be a definite threat in the Cox Plate. This had been his mission from the beginning of the preparation. Come home with the Cox Plate.
So, at his 5th start he lined up in the $3m Group 1 MVRC W.S. Cox Plate WFA 2040m. The rest is history. Jumping well he was taken forward to sit 3rd in the fast tempo race. Approaching the home turn Savabeel kicked clear to win comfortably and write his name in history’s records books. Savbeel destroyed the best including Fields of Omagh, Starcraft and Grand Armee.
This was only the second 3yo colt in 19 years to have won Australasia’s most prestigious race. Savabeel joined Octagonal (also a colt by Zabeel) in equine immortality.
Finally, at his 6th start and closing race for the preparation, the colt lined up seven days later in the Group 1 VRC Derby over 2500m. He ran a fabulous race to run 2nd but since he was backing up in 7 days from the Cox Plate. The Derby was only ever an afterthought and since he had come through the rigours of the Cox Plate in such fantastic shape the decision to run in the Derby was unanimous.
Backing Savabeel up within 7 days, the extra 460m and the unrealistically quick tempo of the 2004 VRC Derby proved just beyond his limits. Savabeel was still infront with 100m to run however he ran a gallant second to Plastered who had the last drop on him in the shadows of the post.
Autumn 2005.
Big things were expected from this spring superstar. Racing had its latest hero.
Savabeel resumed at Caulfield in the Group 1 C.F.Orr Stakes 1400m. The race proved to be an exciting affair as Savabeel got too far back and was checked and then was forced very wide on the turn. Spotting the eventual winner Elvstroem a 3 lengths head start he ran flew home to only be beaten a head. He defeated Lad Of The Manor and Regal Roller.
ZABEEL Trained by Colin Hayes, Zabeel competed with distinction in Australia for Sheikh Hamdan. He won once from three starts at two, then he showed his true classic form at three. He captured the VRC Australian Guineas (Group I, 1600m), then added further lustre to his record by defeating Dr Grace (also by Sir Tristram) and Golden Slipper winner Courtza in the Moonee Valley Stakes (Group II, 1600m). Zabeel then carried his class to 2000m the distance at which he defeated VRC Derby hero Stylish Century in the MVRC Alister Clark Stakes (Group II).
Further Group success came with his win in the Craiglee Stakes (Group II) as a four-year-old, and Zabeel was retired with a record of 7 victories and 5 placings from 19 starts. His earnings, when he retired during the 1990-91 season, stood at $A1,138,400.
Zabeel statistics:
Sire of 32 individual Group One winners Sire of 88 stakes-winners Champion Australian sire ?twice Champion New Zealand sire ?four times Dewar Award Trophy (combined Aus and NZ earnings) nine times, equaling his champion sire Sir Tristram. Zabeel has his awards in succession, winning every year since the 1995/6 season. Sired Caulfield Cup trifecta in 1999 Sired Melbourne Cup quinella in 1998
ZABEEL's sons at stud include:
DON EDUARDO - Stud 2003 Covered 111 mares at $14,000
RESET - Stud 2004 Covered 145 mares at $30,000
OCTAGONAL - entered stud in Australia in 1997 and in France in 1998. He is the sire of 450 progeny to race, 227 winners (50.4%), earnings of $19.5million - 14 stakes winners, 18 stakes placegetters, inc ?
LONHRO - (dam by Straight Strike*; grandam by First Consul*) 26 wins, $5,790,510, VRC Australian Cup-G1, AJC Queen Elizabeth S-G1, George Main S-G1, Chipping Norton S-G1, VRC Mackinnon S-G1, MRC Caulfield S-G1, twice, C F Orr S-G1, Caulfield Guineas-G1, STC George Ryder S-G1, twice, AJC Chipping Norton S-G1.
NIELLO (Straight Strike*; First Consul*) 4 wins, $977,370, STC Rosehill Guineas-G1, Canterbury Guineas-G1, AJC Spring Champion S-G1, Kindergarten S-G3, 2d NJC Spring S-G3, 3d AJC Warwick S-G2, STC Todman Slipper Trial S-G2, 4th Premiere S-G2, AJC Hobartville S-G2.
Zabeel - is the broodmare sire of winners of $6 million - 8 stakes winners including UPSETTHYM, NATURAL BLITZ, WALK ON AIR, RASPBERRY RIPPLE, MR UBIQUITOUS, LUCIDA, etc.
Zabeel has now produced the winners of 88 stakes races, and a total of 32 Group I winners.
His Group 1 male racehorses include:
Vengeance Of Rain (formerly Subscribe) b.g. 2000 ex Danelagh, by Danehill 2005 Hong Kong Derby (HKJC)
Savabeel br. c. 2001 ex Savannah, by Success Express 2004 Spring Champion Stakes (AJC) 2004 Cox Plate (MVRC)
Grey's Inn b.c. 2000 ex Great Verdict, by Christmas Tree 2004 South African Classic (Turffontein) 2004 South African Derby (Turffontein) 2004 South African The July (Greyville)
Reset b.c 2000 ex Assertive Lass, by Zedative 2004 Cadbury Guineas (VRC) 2004 Futurity Stakes (Melbourne Racing Club)
St Reims (NZ) * b.c. 1999 ex L'Quiz, by L'Enjoleur 2002 Mercedes NZ Derby (ARC) 2005 Zabeel Classic (ARC)
Don Eduardo (NZ)* 1998 br. c. ex Diamond Lover, by Sticks and Stones 2001/2002 Australian Derby (AJC)
Zabenz (NZ) b. g. 1997 ex In The Country, by In The Purple 2002 Turf Writers' Cup Steeplechase, Saratoga, New York
Dress Circle (NZ) 1996 b.g. ex Flight Queen, by Noble Bijou 2001/2002 Metropolitan Handicap (AJC)
Hades 1996 b. g. ex Anna’s Choice, by Vice Regal 1999-2000 New Zealand Derby (ARC)
Sky Heights (NZ)* 1995 br. g. ex Moet Heights, by Engagement 1998-99 Australian Derby (AJC), Rosehill Guineas (STC), Caulfield Cup (VATC)
Dignity Dancer (NZ) 1995 b. g. ex Love that Style (AUS), by Haulpak 1998-99 Australian Guineas (Cadbury) (VRC), Spring Champion Stakes (AJC)
Able Master (NZ) 1995 b. g. ex Enhancer, by Red Tempo 1999-2000 Blue Star Millennium Auckland Cup (ARC)
Zonda (NZ) 1994 b. g. ex Gone With The Wind, by Light Wind 1997-98 New Zealand Derby (ARC)
Our Unicorn (NZ) 1994 b. g. ex Regal Mel, by Vice Regal 2000-2001 Westbury Stud Auckland Cup (ARC)
Greene Street (NZ) 1994 br.g. ex Shadyside, by Vice Regal 2001/2002 Avondale Gold Cup (NZ Bloodstock) (Avon J.C.)
Bezeal Bay (NZ) 1993 b. g. ex Essylt (GB), by Artaius 1998-99 Emirates Stakes (VRC)
Might And Power (NZ) 1993 b/br. g. ex Benediction (IRE), by Day is Done Australian Horse of the Year 1997-98 Australian Horse of the Year 1998-99 Australian Champion Older Horse 1997-98 1997-98 Caulfield Cup (VATC), Doomben Cup (BTC), Melbourne Cup (VRC), The Mercedes Classic (STC), Queen Elizabeth Stakes (AJC)1998-99 W S Cox Plate (BMW) (MVRC), Caulfield Stakes (VATC)
Mouawad (NZ)* 1993 br. c. ex Eight Carat (GB), by Pieces of Eight Champion Australian 3-Year-Old, 1996-97 George Ryder (STC) 1996-97 Australian Guineas (Cadbury) (VRC), Futurity Stakes (VATC)
Octagonal (NZ)* 1992 br. c. ex Eight Carat (GB), by Pieces of Eight Champion Australian 2-Year-Old Champion Australian 3-Year-Old Australian Horse of the Year 1995-96 1994-95 Sires?Produce Stakes (AJC), Australian Derby (AJC), Canterbury Guineas (STC), The Mercedes Classic (STC), Rosehill Guineas (STC), W S Cox Plate (MVRC) 1996-97 Australian Cup (VRC), Chipping Norton Stakes (AJC), The Mercedes Classic (STC), Underwood Stakes (VATC)
Cronus (NZ) 1992 b. g. ex Foreign Copy, by Bold Venture 1996-97 Adelaide Cup (SAJC)
Sir Tristram kept the record-keepers busy from the time his oldest runners were three-year-olds, stamping himself one of the world's best stallions in the process. Today the dynasty he founded adds new Group winners at every major racing carnival in Australasia, his achievements still the standard by which each new sire is measured.
45 Group One winners; a total of 127 Group and Listed Stakes winners; in all, more than 220 black type performers, almost one quarter of all his runners. Today Sir Tristram's progeny earnings total close to $A50 million.
That total makes Sir Tristram the world's second leading sire of Group One winners: only in arrears of Sadler's Wells and ahead of Mr Prospector, ahead of Nijinsky II, ahead of Danzig and ahead of Northern Dancer.
He sired outstanding two-year olds Grosvenor, Isolda, Kaapstad, Our Tristalight, Tristalove and the 1987 Golden Slipper winner Marauding
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2005 Hong Kong Derby (HKJC) 