Savile Row
Trish Dunell
Mark Du Plessis has been handed a gilt-edged opportunity to bag a Group One feature.
the rider of the talented colt Savile Row in the Randwick Meats Levin Classic at Trentham on January 14.
The Karaka-based jockey has been booked as a replacement for Michael Coleman, who rode the three-year-old to an impressive last-start win against the older horses, but a subsequent suspension ruled him out of the Wellington meeting.
Savile Row's Ellerslie success at the end of last month marked his first appearance since he finished runner-up behind Ugo Foscolo in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas in November. That performance earned him a hefty 20 rating points.
"That meant we had to run him in a Rating 85 race at Ellerslie and he was obviously a lot worse off in the weights against proven performers," said Nick Fairweather, racing manager to trainers Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard.
"The distance (1200m) was short of his best so he was very impressive and he has flown through the race."
Safely through his Trentham assignment, Savile Row will be prepared for the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby.
"There are lead-up options and he is nominated for the Herbie Dyke Stakes. He could go that way as opposed to the Avondale Guineas, but we'll see closer to the time," Fairweather said.
Bred and raced by Valachi Downs' Kevin Hickman, Savile Row is a son of Makfi and the imported Daylami mare Fleece, who won up to 2200 metres.
"We definitely believe that he's a Derby horse and we'll carry on along that way," Moroney said.
"He could also go to Melbourne or Sydney at some stage, but we'll just take things as they come. He's got a great future." – NZ Racing Desk.
the rider of the talented colt Savile Row in the Randwick Meats Levin Classic at Trentham on January 14.
The Karaka-based jockey has been booked as a replacement for Michael Coleman, who rode the three-year-old to an impressive last-start win against the older horses, but a subsequent suspension ruled him out of the Wellington meeting.
Savile Row's Ellerslie success at the end of last month marked his first appearance since he finished runner-up behind Ugo Foscolo in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas in November. That performance earned him a hefty 20 rating points.
"That meant we had to run him in a Rating 85 race at Ellerslie and he was obviously a lot worse off in the weights against proven performers," said Nick Fairweather, racing manager to trainers Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard.
"The distance (1200m) was short of his best so he was very impressive and he has flown through the race."
Safely through his Trentham assignment, Savile Row will be prepared for the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby.
"There are lead-up options and he is nominated for the Herbie Dyke Stakes. He could go that way as opposed to the Avondale Guineas, but we'll see closer to the time," Fairweather said.
Bred and raced by Valachi Downs' Kevin Hickman, Savile Row is a son of Makfi and the imported Daylami mare Fleece, who won up to 2200 metres.
"We definitely believe that he's a Derby horse and we'll carry on along that way," Moroney said.
"He could also go to Melbourne or Sydney at some stage, but we'll just take things as they come. He's got a great future." – NZ Racing Desk.
