Winning Cheers to Savy Yong Blonk

In a race that looked hers for the taking, Savy Yong Blonk  (5 m Savabeel - Ampin, by Pins) was aided by a terrific ride from Danielle Johnson in the $30,000 Open 1600 metres on Saturday at Hastings.

While trainer Jamie Richards was not enamoured by the mare being slowly away in recent starts, habitually sitting against the back of the gate, interim barrier practice enabled Savy Yong Blonk to take a trailing position behind the leader and the 3-1 race favourite was too good once clear in the straight. 

“She had the nice run and capitalized on it - too good, indeed, after a tidy ride,” said commentator Tony Lee. “She got the space when she wanted it, dashed through and put them away quite nicely.”

In the race sponsored by Vet Services Hawkes Bay, Savy Yong Blonk ran the 1600 metres in 1:37.0 on Dead4 footing, winning by one and a quarter lengths. 

The winner of five race for owner-breeders Bill & Margaret Gartshore and Jim & Susan Gartshore, Savy Yong Blonk blitzed her rivals in the Royal Descent Stakes (Fillies & Mares, 1600m) on Auckland Cup Day (Mar. 3) at Ellerslie, following a terrific second in the City of Auckland Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m), and holds a nomination for the Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) on 17 October at Hastings.

“I've always held her in high regard as a staying sort of filly, and two runs under her belt, up to a mile, cleanly away from the gates today and able to take up a position was probably the winning of the race,” Richards said. “It was another really nice ride from Danielle.

“I'd like to give a big thank you to Bill and Jim Gartshore. They've been really big supporters of mine and onwards and upwards from here.”

A filly that performed at the top-end as a three-year-old, Savy Yong Blonk is the first foal from unraced Pins (Snippets) mare Ampin, in turn from the impressive winning race mare Ambitious (Last Tycoon), who finished second in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and left seven individual winners of 22 races.

Savy Yong Blonk was strapped by Te Akau racing manager Libby Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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