Shalabiya draws strong praise ahead of Northland Breeders’ Stakes
Exciting three-year-old Shalabiya (NZ) (Brazen Beau) will head to Ruakaka on Saturday as the $2.10 favourite for the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), but the jockey who has been aboard for her impressive start to racing will be in the opposition camp.
Warren Kennedy is committed to Cambridge Stud’s Group One-performed State Of Valour (NZ) (Sword Of State) ($14) in the three-year-old feature, paving the way for Michael McNab to take the ride on Shalabiya.
Kennedy may be among Shalabiya’s opposition on Saturday, but having experienced her ability first-hand, he knows better than most just how difficult she will be to beat.
“It was as impressive as it looked,” Kennedy said of her maiden victory over the course and distance a fortnight ago. “She really gave me a good feel.
“The ability she has to jump and go forward, get a spot, then drop the bit and relax is amazing. Then later in the race she showed an exceptional turn of foot. She has oodles of class about her.”
Shalabiya is out of the O’Reilly mare Gracehill, making her a half-sister to Crocetti, whose nine victories include the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Railway (1200m).
Kennedy knows Crocetti particularly well and believes Shalabiya compares favourably with the star galloper at the corresponding stage of their careers.
“I spoke to Daniel Nakhle (owner-breeder) after her maiden victory, and I said to him the only comparison I can give you is Crocetti, at the same point of their careers as three-year-olds,” he said.
“I think she gave me a better feel. She is more tractable and has a better turn of foot, whereas Crocetti was more of an up-and-go forward horse.
“So, here’s hoping she could be better than him.”
Kennedy will get a close-up view of Shalabiya on Saturday aboard State Of Valour, who provides him with a strong hand of his own in the three-year-old feature.
“I thought his trial at Ruakaka was very good,” Kennedy said.
“It was August 1 and he was the only three-year-old in that trial, so he was basically a two-year-old running against all those nice older horses.
“We just wanted to get his fitness level up and I thought he applied himself well. He stuck to his guns and did everything we wanted him to do.
“He is Group One-performed. It is a pity about his draw (12) but he has come in this term a little bit better, he is more tractable. He is not that up-and-run type of horse he was as a two-year-old. He is now a bit more relaxed.
“He is a horse that is still finding himself, but he will be in with a shout on Saturday.”
Kennedy also got a first-hand glimpse at one of his favourite mounts when Crocetti cruised past State Of Valour to win their recent Ruakaka trial, with Kennedy aboard the runner-up.
Crocetti is likely to make his raceday return in the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday week before progressing to the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) on September 5, for which he is a $10 fourth favourite.
“I was just riding my trial, and I saw those blue colours come by me and he was just coasting,” Kennedy said.
“He looked like he enjoyed himself and he’s in a better space than he was last prep. He just wasn’t himself in those last few runs.
“We all know he is quality, so he will probably head to the Foxbridge Plate as a prep run for the Proisir Plate, but that is all weather dependent, so here’s hoping we get a few sunny days.
“He has that natural pace about him with that huge action, however, he no longer has that gate speed, that initial burst that you need for those 1200m races,” he said.
“I think the 1400m will be right up his alley. That will most likely be his niche now.
“He could probably stretch over a bit further. As a three-year-old, he won the 2000 Guineas at a mile.”
Kennedy, who claimed the New Zealand jockeys’ premiership in the 2023-24 season with 140 wins, is also looking forward to stepping up his workload this term after taking a more measured approach over the past two.
“I am looking to travel a bit more this season,” he said. “I had a bit of a break the last two, so I’m feeling a bit bored.
“I want to get up and going and ride as many races as I can and get as many winners as I can, but obviously Group One races are the goal.” - NZ Racing Desk
Group goals beckon for well-related Savagram
Well-related Savabeel colt Savagram (NZ) (Savabeel) stamped himself as a three-year-old of considerable promise with an impressive debut victory at Canterbury on Wednesday, putting himself in the frame for a potential tilt at the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt showed an impressive turn of foot to win the Captivant @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1200m), despite being bred to stretch over further.
Savagram is a full-brother to Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel), who won the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) for the Waterhouse-Bott stable in 2023, and Bott believes the younger sibling possesses a potent blend of speed and stamina.
“He’s probably a stronger type than Major Beel,” Bott said.
“Maybe he’s got that little bit more acceleration and speed, so whether that opens up a few more options for him.
“He quickened up nicely and that’s what he’s always shown. He’s got a bit of class for a horse that has got a bit of stamina. He’s got speed and a turn of foot to go with it.”
Tim Clark sent Savagram straight to the lead and the $2.70 favourite travelled comfortably before putting the race beyond doubt with a sharp acceleration around the home turn.
He went on to score by a length and a half from Cantero (Spirit of Boom) ($9), with Threads (Snitzel) ($6.50) another length and three-quarters away in third.
Bred by Waikato Stud, Savagram is out of the O’Reilly mare Gram, who in addition to Major Beel has also produced another full sibling in the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Group Three winner Solid Gold (NZ) (Savabeel).
Savagram was sold by Waikato Stud for A$325,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick retaining an ownership interest in the colt.
Bott is yet to lock in a program for Savagram, but said the A$2 million Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick in late October could be on his radar.
“No specific target yet, but all those three-year-old races will be in contention,” Bott said.
“I do think he’ll be of that quality. We could try to take him through to a Spring Champion, they’d be lovely races for him.” - NZ Racing Desk
Wilson-Taylor makes instant impact
Queensland jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor continued to make himself at home in New Zealand when producing a polished ride aboard Sharapova (NZ) (Grunt) to win the Rotorua & Bay Of Plenty Hunt Life Members 1950 at Rotorua on Wednesday.
The Margaret Falconer-trained mare travelled strongly throughout for Wilson-Taylor, who allowed her to find her feet before bringing her into the clear approaching the home turn.
Sharapova was travelling like the winner well before straightening and Wilson-Taylor remained patient before presenting her centre-track, where the five-year-old lengthened nicely to put her rivals away.
“It was good to get the monkey off the back, so to speak,” Wilson-Taylor said.
“She has competed in much better races than this, albeit she hadn’t won for a while, but the rest of the field hadn’t either.
“There was good pressure from the get-go, so that really aided her. She settled and won well.”
The victory was another positive step for Wilson-Taylor as he establishes himself in New Zealand, having recently relocated from Queensland for an extended riding stint through the spring and summer carnivals.
The 26-year-old is based in Matamata and will also ride work at Cambridge as he looks to build relationships and capitalise on opportunities in New Zealand’s feature races.
Wilson-Taylor is already familiar with success on this side of the Tasman, having combined with the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj) to win the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham in 2024.
A Group One-winning rider in Australia, Wilson-Taylor’s career highlight came aboard Palaisipan (So You Think) in the 2023 Gr.1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) in Brisbane.
He has committed to an initial six-month stint in New Zealand and is hoping the move will provide further opportunities at the elite level as he looks to make his mark during the spring and summer. - NZ Racing Desk
NZ Racing Desk
NZ Racing Desk
Joshua Smith
Paul Vettise
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