Savabeel Daughter Triumphs in Travis Stakes

Cambridge galloper Pierina (Savabeel-Quizzical, by Carnegie) caused a major upset when she dashed clear in the final stages to score an emphatic victory in Saturday’s feature event at Te Rapa, the Gr2 Travis Stakes (2000m). The underrated Savabeel 6YO had been knocking on the door of another win with some eye-catching efforts of late, including producing a storming late run for third in the Listed Anzac Mile (1550m) at Awapuni last Sunday. According to loveracing.nz, the Stephen Marsh-trained mare handled the quick back-up and step up to 2000m on Saturday with aplomb as she travelled sweetly beyond midfield for rider Michael McNab. The jockey tracked up behind runners approaching the home turn, before Pierina was gifted with a dream run along the rails at the top of the straight and cleared out to win by 5-lengths from fancied pair Travelling Light (El Roca) and Savy Yong Blonk (Savabeel). Marsh, who has had his stable in red-hot form of late, was in awe of the performance: “That was a good field and she just destroyed them,” he said. “She is a mare that is really only just coming right, so to pick up a black type placing last week and top that off with a Group 2 win is very special and a real boost to her broodmare prospects. Out of the Carnegie mare Quizzical, Pierina sports the colours of part-owner Lib Petagna, who races her in partnership with Greg Clarke. She was purchased out of the Waikato Stud draft for $110,000 by Bloodstock agent Bruce Perry, on behalf of Petagna, during the Select Yearling sale at Karaka in 2016 and has now won five of her 29 starts and over $181,000 in prizemoney.