She Gives Us Fever

Champion Two-Year-Old and Horse of the Year finalist Gold Fever (2 f Savabeel - Gold Rocks, by Oratorio) was seen as her pugnacious best when winning the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) in February at Matamata.

In becoming the sixth Te Akau filly to win the Breeders' Stakes, Gold Fever was urged along in seventh by rider Opie Bosson on a torrid pace before being sent out after the leaders four wide around the home turn. Renowned for her steely attitude as much as her talent, she hooked into a duel before gaining ascendency near the line. For one so young, there was a great deal of resolve about her performance.

Bosson said: “She was knocked sideways at the start, ending up in that spot by accident but in the end it worked out pretty good and the fast pace probably helped her. She's a tough little filly, not the easiest to ride, and all credit to Cameron Lammas. He's done an amazing job with her, educated her, and made my job a lot easier”.

The reference by Bosson about Lammas was fitting, as he tipped out Gold Fever to Te Akau principal David Ellis and trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards as one of the best two-year-olds he had ridden in training and was vindicated when scoring aboard her on debut last November at Te Rapa.

“I quite liked her because she's got a bit of attitude about her. A bit of guts about her, she's like a naughty little pony and gets quite angry if you tell her off,” Lammas said.

“I rode her in gallops and her two trials, which were both nice efforts without overexerting her and she's just continued to improve. She's not massive but has grit and will give everything each time.”

Owned by the Te Akau Gold Fever Syndicate, the filly was purchased by David Ellis for $110,000, from the draft of Sledmere Stud, at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale - and carries a Waikato Stud brand.

Interestingly, Gold Fever became the second filly in succession to win the Breeders' Stakes from the mare Gold Rocks, after Gold Rush (So You Think) won in 2016.

Gold Fever raced impeccably throughout her two-year-old season, with six starts registering three wins and three thirds - a record that could have easily been enhanced. In addition to claiming the prestigious Breeders' Stakes, a race that has unearthed a myriad of star performers in the past, she also finished third in both the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) and Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) (where in both events she featured in the Stewards' Report: being bumped in the Eclipse, and meeting a ‘severe' check early in the Sistema).

Her campaign was also interrupted on more than one occasion with race meeting abandonments or postponements which was frustrating with a filly who was ready to go.

“I've always been impressed by this filly,” Ellis said. “She looked a precocious, running type of Savabeel right from the outset and I remember thinking during our inspections at the sales that she was a filly with plenty of character, very willing, and forward going. Mark (Walker) and Jamie (Richards) picked her out and I was very much liked what I saw, so ensured she was on my list to purchase.

“A month after I bought her, her half-sister Gold Rush won the Matamata Breeders' Stakes, so the owners' investment was greatly enhanced within the first month. Because of that she sold very quickly, in fact she was oversubscribed. She was a very popular filly. Our owners have put their hard earned money into this filly and it's great to see what a truly wonderful investment she is.

“She does things professionally and that's how we like to see our two-year-olds race: begin well, race handily and show a great kick when asked,” Ellis added.

In preparation for her three-year-old season, Gold Fever has been back in training for just over a month at Te Akau Racing stables in Matamata.

“We're extremely pleased with her at this early stage of her preparation,” said co-trainer Stephen Autridge.

“She's a lot stronger, grown a touch and mentally she has matured for the spell, because at two she could be on the toe and a bit of a tart around the stables and at the track. But this time in she's a lot better in all respects and we can only hope that it transfers into her race performances as a three-year-old.”

Autridge said that Gold Fever is scheduled to trial on 15 August at Te Rapa, and the first stakes' assignment for her, all going well, will be the $70,000 Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 23 September at Hastings.

“She's not the tallest filly but she's pretty solid now and after the Gold Trail we think she'll get 1400
metres although past that who knows?

“We'll have her ready for the first couple of races and see what happens from there,” he said.

Gold Fever has a lovely Success Express (Hold Your Peace) influence on both sides of her pedigree.
Success Express is the dam sire of Savabeel, through dual Group One winner Savannah Success.

Savannah Success was a brilliant filly, winning eight of her fifteen starts. She won a stakes race as a two-year-old over 1200 metres, won a further stakes race, a Group Three, two Group Two, including the Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm, and the New Zealand Oaks (2400m), and Ansett Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, both at Group One level.  While on the dam side, Success Express is the dam sire of Oratorio, through Express A Smile.