Winner: Savoir Faire Fabulous

Continuing winning form, Savoir Faire (6 g Savabeel – Etiquette, by O’Reilly) made it back-to-back victories in the $65,000 Myracehorse Open Handicap 2100 metres on 20 March at Pukekohe.

Having returned to winning form with a terrific performance in the Open Handicap 2000 metres on 28 February at Matamata, during a stretch of 12 wins in a fortnight for trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Savoir Faire had weight relief again to 52kg courtesy of Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman (a2). 

Positioned seventh on the inner and third last at the 600m, Savoir Faire travelled in behind runners at the 300m looking to have plenty to offer and once finally clear inside the final furlong, he produced an undeniable finish to hit the line strongly.

It was mature ride by Hassman, who remained cool in order to find room in the straight, and in the process of winning she registered her 50th career win.  Huge congratulations Hayley!

Having started riding as an apprentice to Te Akau in March 2025, Hassman has continued to improve while reducing her weight claim to two-kilos, based on the number of races won, and she has cemented her place as an integral member of the team. 

On Good4 footing, Savoir Faire ran 2100 metres on 2:09.2, last 600m in 33.7 (approx.), and drifted in betting to pay $6.20 & $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It’s been great to see him win twice in a row with such strong finishes,” Walker said.

“He’s been a bit of a frustrating horse at times, but a very good galloper on his day. He won a Saturday race at Caulfield when we had him in our stable in Melbourne and it take a high-class galloper to do that.

“He just lost his way a little bit when getting up in grades in Australia but has relished returning home and really sparked up again now in his racing. 

“It was a good ride of Hayley’s, who didn’t panic when held up at a vital stage in the straight, and he let down strongly once she’d nursed him into the clear.

“Sam (Bergerson), Reece (Trumper), and the team at Matamata have really worked him out, and he’s capable of going on to bigger and better things.

“Also, to Hayley, congratulations from all of us in getting her 50th career win. She’s a young lady with a great attitude, a very hard worker, and she’s seizing every opportunity to advance her career.”

Considered the pick of progeny by Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel) at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, Savoir Faire was purchased by David Ellis CNZM, from the draft of Ohukia Lodge, and is owned by Te Akau 2021 RTR Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“He was a staying type, a real Derby type to my eye, when we bought him and the way he finds the line over 2000 metres is testament to that,” Ellis said.

“He’s enjoying being back in New Zealand, and shown with consecutive wins in Open Handicap grade that he’s a horse that can prove competitive in middle-distance stakes races in the future.

“He finished third in the Group 2 Waikato Guineas as a three-year-old, and won three times in Melbourne, so he’s a good horse in anyone’s language.

“We’re also really proud of Hayley Hassman to have recorded her 50th win. She spent some time working for us in the Cranbourne stable in Melbourne, is the type of person to fit in well wherever she goes and we’re lucky to have her in Matamata. 

“She’s a top competitor, Hayley, and it’s showing in her riding that she really wants to win.”

No other buyer (David Ellis) or stable (Te Akau Racing) has had more success with the progeny of Savabeel (Zabeel).

Ellis has selected, bought, and Te Akau has trained more Group One winning and Group winning progeny by Savabeel than anyone else.

The list includes Group One winners now at stud: Embellish, Cool Aza Beel, and Noverre, and other Group One winners: Probabeel (4), a dual NZ Horse of the Year; Prise De Fer; Amarelinha (NZB Filly of the Year); Hall Of Fame; Sword Of Osman; Skew Wiff; The Perfect Pink, and a host of other stakes 'winners by the remarkable sire.

Ellis also purchased Damask Rose (Savabeel) as a yearling at Karaka, and last year she won the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (Restricted Listed, 1600m) and inaugural running of the $3.5m NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m). 

While on Karaka Millions Night, trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson produced another Savabeel rising star filly when Belle Cheval impressively won the Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m), after finishing third in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), and following her impressive victory in the Uncle Remus Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) she produced a huge finish only to be denied by a nose in the $4m NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m) on 7 March at Ellerslie. 

The dam of Savoir Faire, Etiquette, who has also produced dual Group Three winning brother Milford (Savabeel), is a sister to quadruple Group One winner Sacred Falls (O’Reilly), who, while successful, unfortunately had his time cut short as a stallion at Waikato Stud, when euthanized after producing four crops. 

Savoir Faire was strapped by Tannu Saddu. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz