Saavoya following her Ellerslie win
Photo: Trish Dunell
Quality racemare Saavoya returned to the winner's circle for the first time since her three-year-old days when she took out the Pukekohe Veterinary Centre sponsored Rating 85 1400 metre contest at Ellerslie on Saturday.
It was the now four-year-old mare's third appearance after a lengthy break following a three-year-old campaign that saw her post a Group Two double with victories in both the Eight Carat Classic and Royal Stakes at Ellerslie.
Several niggling issues had seen her return to the race track this season delayed until November last year with her races in this preparation carefully spaced as she returned to full fitness.
"She had a big season as a three-year-old so we were always going to give her plenty of time before we brought her back for this campaign," noted co-trainer Andrew Forsman.
"She has had a couple of setbacks along the way so we just took it quietly as we looked to bring her back to her peak. She is still a wee way off her best but it was good to see her show plenty of fight on Saturday and get the win."
Forsman is now keen to see the mare step up in distance as he and co-trainer Murray Baker plot a course for her over the next few months.
"She drew away nicely on Saturday over the 1400 metres which suggests she is looking for a mile or more now," he said.
"We think she is probably at her best at a mile so there are some nice options for her over the next couple of months. We may back her up at Tauranga his weekend and then look to some black-type options after that.
"She is already a valuable mare as a dual Group Two winner however further stakes wins as an older mare can only enhance that value.
"A Group One win would be the ultimate so a race like the New Zealand Breeders' Stakes at Te Aroha is definitely on the radar."
Meanwhile Forsman is looking forward to this weekend's opening day of the prestigious Wellington Cup Carnival at Trentham with promising miler Victor Hugo set to tackle the Gr. 3 Tui Anniversary Handicap while stablemate Show The World may line up in the Gr. 3 Millsreef Winery Trentham Stakes as a precursor to the Gr. 2 Wallaceville Estate Wellington Cup a week later. – NZ Racing Desk
It was the now four-year-old mare's third appearance after a lengthy break following a three-year-old campaign that saw her post a Group Two double with victories in both the Eight Carat Classic and Royal Stakes at Ellerslie.
Several niggling issues had seen her return to the race track this season delayed until November last year with her races in this preparation carefully spaced as she returned to full fitness.
"She had a big season as a three-year-old so we were always going to give her plenty of time before we brought her back for this campaign," noted co-trainer Andrew Forsman.
"She has had a couple of setbacks along the way so we just took it quietly as we looked to bring her back to her peak. She is still a wee way off her best but it was good to see her show plenty of fight on Saturday and get the win."
Forsman is now keen to see the mare step up in distance as he and co-trainer Murray Baker plot a course for her over the next few months.
"She drew away nicely on Saturday over the 1400 metres which suggests she is looking for a mile or more now," he said.
"We think she is probably at her best at a mile so there are some nice options for her over the next couple of months. We may back her up at Tauranga his weekend and then look to some black-type options after that.
"She is already a valuable mare as a dual Group Two winner however further stakes wins as an older mare can only enhance that value.
"A Group One win would be the ultimate so a race like the New Zealand Breeders' Stakes at Te Aroha is definitely on the radar."
Meanwhile Forsman is looking forward to this weekend's opening day of the prestigious Wellington Cup Carnival at Trentham with promising miler Victor Hugo set to tackle the Gr. 3 Tui Anniversary Handicap while stablemate Show The World may line up in the Gr. 3 Millsreef Winery Trentham Stakes as a precursor to the Gr. 2 Wallaceville Estate Wellington Cup a week later. – NZ Racing Desk