Savy Yong Blonk too strong in City Of Auckland Cup.
Rarely does a day of stakes of racing in New Zealand conclude without Waikato Stud-based stallion Savabeel (Zabeel) being represented by a new stakes winner and Friday was no different with his five-year-old daughter Savy Yong Blonk (5 m ex Ampin by Pins) adding a 109th stakes win to the stallion's CV in the City of Auckland Cup (Gr 3, 2400m).
The Jamie Richards-trained five-year-old mare came into the race having finished second in both the Counties Cup (Gr 3, 2100m) and Waikato Cup (Gr 3, 2400m) and she finally got her head in front when coming out on top of a close finish with Platinum Invador (Redwood), beating by a nose. Robusto (Zed) was another length and a quarter back in third.
"She really deserves this win," Richards said. "She's run second in a number of these big Cup races. She's not the biggest mare, but fair play to her – she's done the job."
Bred and raced by Gartshore Bloodstock Ltd, Savy Yong Blonk is out of unraced Pins (O'Reilly) mare Ampin, making her a sister to Group 2 winner Adelaide Ace.
Ampin herself is a half-sister to Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Strike The Stars, while further afield this is the same family as Group 3 scorer Another Dollar (Ocean Park).
Being by Savabeel and out of the a Pins mare, Savy Yong Blonk is therefore bred on the same cross as 14 other stakes winners, headed by Group 1-winning trio Savvy Coup, Brambles and Probabeel.
After missing to Coolmore Stud shuttler Churchill (Galileo) in 2019, Ampin was most recently covered by Darley's stalwart Lonhro (Octagonal).
Five-time champion sire Savabeel - who stood at Waikato Stud for NZ$100,000 (plus GST) this year - has 44 lots catalogued for Karaka 2021 - Book 1. He currently sits at the head of the New Zealand sires table with his progeny earnings totalling NZ$1,136,240, almost NZ$400,000 clear of nearest rival Darci Brahma (Danehill) whilst he also heads the table by winners.
