Queensland Oaks is Winter Carnival goal for Savvan

A mid-week Canterbury win could be the stepping stone for Savvan heading towards the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 3.

Savvan ran third to Eleonora, above, in the Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Savvan ran third to Eleonora, above, in the Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Savvan beat the older horses in the 1550m BenchMark 67 Handicap at Canterbury on Wednesday to record her second win from seven starts and trainer James Cummings is keen to test the filly out again in better company and will target a Queensland campaign beginning with a the Listed $125,000 Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 6.

“It’s impressive she could beat the older horses, to be doing that is a good sign,” Cummings told AAP.

“We’ll put a little but more work into her and she might even find herself in a Gold Coast Bracelet third-up.

“She’s built like a colt. There’s plenty of substance about her. Hopefully she can build on the record she produced when she went down to Caulfield in the spring and ran well.”

“She was nominated for the VRC Oaks (last spring) and will be nominated for the Queensland Oaks when the time comes.”

Savvan didn’t get to run in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival but did perform well against the fillies when third behind Eleonora and Tiamo Grace in the Group 3 $150,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.

Cummings has already got his eye on some of the Queensland Winter Carnival prizemoney with his three year old colt Good Standing a chance to take on the older sprinters in the Group 2 $200,000 Ellyce Galvin Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Good Standing is also an acceptor in the Group 3 $200,000 Blacktown Workers Club Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) at Hawkesbury and Cummings will make a decision today which race the Artie Schiller colt will run in.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.