“You sort of know what you’ve got and it makes your job harder, but you hope you have done everything you can as he was coming back from a bit of a let-up.
“It’s really cool and I‘m super happy for the Oaks Stud (owner) and for the horse.”
Gerard has a huge autumn campaign planned for the horse and gained reassurance before the race from Spratt, who was unconcerned about the challenge they were facing first up.
“Sam said to me ‘Pam don’t worry as he could be last or anywhere and he will still win' as she has that much confidence in him,” she said.
“Obviously it is the feel he gives her although, I did tell her to stop talking right away.
“He is a top horse who has his confidence up and that is great.
“We need to get him home now and work out how we progress as colts can get a bit hot and while he is in the zone we will decide where we need to go next.”
Gerard had spoken during the week about the next possible options for the Karaka Yearling Sale graduate which include the lucrative $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) on January 25, and later in March, the $3.5m NZB Kiwi (1500m),
However, as a future stallion prospect, Gerard has indicated Savaglee would be more likely to chase valuable black-type, with the Group One BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 8 on the radar.
Spratt oozed confidence as she guided the horse to the start and afterwards was full of praise for him.
“I got a perfect run but I wasn’t worried; as I had said to Pam, even if we are last he will be able to smoke past them,” she said.
“I was pretty much winging it and he is just getting better and better with every start and is a mean racehorse now.
“As a stallion prospect, Group One status is what is best for him and right now he is right up there on how I rate them.”
Savaglee, who was a $400,000 yearling purchase at Karaka for owners The Oaks Stud from the draft of breeders Waikato Stud, has now had 13 starts for seven wins, two placings and $974,975 in stakes.
– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
