Pure Savalina Perfection

A great ride by Opie Bosson enabled Pure Savalina (3 f Savabeel - Catalina, by Faltaat) to win by a nose in the Matamata Commercial Cleaners' Maiden 1600 metres on Friday 13 January at Matamata.

Pure Savalina continued the run for trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, following a win by Grazia (Savabeel), also ridden by Bosson, in the last race on Thursday at Wanganui.

Everything fell into place for horse and rider on that occasion and the same can be said for the way things unfolded for Pure Savalina.

Fifth last early, off a wide gate, Bosson had the filly tracking up three wide with cover behind Kane (Darci Brahma) from the 1000m, a run which took her right into contention rounding the home turn, and she managed to hunt the third favourite down as the pair came clear of the field.

“She's always shown enough, but we've had to take our time with her,” Autridge said.

“She's not an overly strong filly at present, but a little more time and racing and she'll go places.

“She's a Savabeel filly and they don't mind getting up to 2000 metres, and she covered a bit of extra ground today but was kept out of trouble and it all helped.”

Pure Savalina covered the mile in 1:37.6, last 600m 37.4, on Dead4 footing, following early morning rain, and shortened late from $12.00 & $3.40 (fixed) to pay $9.00 & $2.75.

Winning at her third start for owner Max Whitby, Pure Savalina had fought solidly for sixth off a tough run over 1400 metres at Tauranga, following a brave debut effort for fifth to winning stable-mate Alamosa Express (Alamosa) at Pukekohe.

“She got a good run at Tauranga, but the horse inside her was very erratic and bashed her about four or five times and coming to the corner she had to ease out of it, so it was better than what it looked,” Autridge said.

“Max (Whitby) bought the horse. He usually selects his ‘hit list' and gets his trainers to have a look and if they like it he buys them, and I liked her.”

Pure Savalina was strapped by Megan Winter.

Footnote: Te Akau apprentice Jasmine Fawcett, who rode Hushed (Don Eduardo) to victory on 31 December at Stratford, also rode a winner, Solomon (Postponed), during the meeting, trained by her cousin Kylie Fawcett.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz