Savy Yong Blonk Brilliant

Terribly unlucky at her previous outing, Savy Yong Blonk (4 m Savabeel - Ampin, by Pins) made amends with another impressive victory in the $30,000 TDDA Rating 72 2100 metres on Saturday at Ellerslie. 

The best credentialed in the race, having registered a third on the course last season in the Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m), Savy Yong Blonk won a year to the day after scoring at Rotorua, in a month (December) that saw her win twice. 

And fittingly, it made up for a horrendous situation on 16 November at Tauranga, when, after securing a lovely position, she was blocked every which way before finishing fourth in the Rating 72 2100 metres.

But turn things around, she did, and always looked the winner under a deft ride by Troy Harris. Letting things unfold from fifth on the outer, she travelled best approaching the 600m, cruised up to level entering the straight and quickly asserted her dominance.

Winning by nearly three lengths, in a manner suggesting richer spoils lay ahead, Savy Yong Blonk ran the 2100 metres in a polished 2:15.3, last 600m in 34.5, and returned handsomely ($4.90 & $2.10) in a race offering only two place dividends. 

In training for owner-breeders Bill and Jim Gartshore, Savy Yong Blonk is the first foal from Ampin (Pins), an unraced half-sister to Group Three winner and Group One placed Strike the Stars (Savabeel), and sister to Victoria Derby Trial winner Adelaide Ace. Her grand-dam, Ambitious (Last Tycoon), was runner-up in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) before leaving seven individual winners of 22 races, and third dam, Starcent (Centaine), was Joint Third Top Filly in her three-year-old season. 

“She's a pretty exciting mare that I expect can win a really nice race before the end of the season,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis. “She's had quite a bit of bad luck in some of her races and it's not often you see a mare win that impressively carrying 59-kilos. 

“It's really nice to win another race for Jim and Bill Gartshore. They're been great supporters of the stable for a long time. They love their racing, they're really good people and it's exciting for them to have a mare like this. Especially to breed from in the future and it really is a great family. 

“It was an excellent ride by Troy (Harris) and he summed the race up perfectly. He's been a top horseman all the way through and he's close to a genius on top of a horse. He came to work for Te Akau when he was 15. He rides work for us most mornings and although not a light weight he's riding in great touch and working really hard to make weights. 

The win provided trainer Jamie Richards with his fifth in a week, following Summer Monsoon (Stratum) last Sunday at Cromwell, Enrichment (Rock ‘n' Pop) on Wednesday at Pukekohe, Zareeba (Rip Van Winkle) Thursday at New Plymouth, and Romantic Lady (Power) on Friday at Matamata. He leads the premiership with 43 wins. 

“It was plain for all to see last time how unlucky she was at Tauranga, and should have won,” Richards said. “We tried to set her up for the Gartshore boys to have a winner on the day they were sponsoring the weight-for-age feature there, but it wasn't to be, and great to see her deliver a dominant win today.

“I thought Swords Drawn was going to be hard to beat, remaining in the same grade after his recent win at Pukekohe, but this mare she's above average, brought good form as a three-year-old, and I certainly think she's going the right way. 

“Our plan is to have her back at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, which race is still to be worked out but going in with winning form will be ideal and I thought Troy (Harris) gave her a perfect ten out of ten ride.”

In addition to her third in the Sunline Vase last season, Savy Yong Blonk also produced notable efforts in the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m), and NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m). 

Savy Yong Blonk was strapped by Tom Harrison. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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