Trainer Roydon Bergerson has confirmed that New Zealand Oaks winner Savaria is all but certain to make the trip to Sydney for the 2015 Australian Oaks at Royal Randwick on April 11.
Roydon Bergerson is hopeful that Savaria can replicate the feats of Rising Romance and win the 2015 Australian Oaks. Photo by: Steve Hart
Savaria was not include in the initial nominations for the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m), but she has stamped herself as a genuine contender for the race after she took out the Group 3 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings on February 28 and the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 14 in impressive fashion.
Bergerson told Sky Racing HQ this morning that his original plan was to send Savaria to the spelling paddock after the New Zealand Oaks, but she has come through the run so well that he is happy to pay the late entry fee to get the three-year-old into the Australian Oaks field.
“She has pulled up very well,” Bergerson said.
“Why she was not in the field originally was because we thought we would turn her out after the Oaks and bring her back for the spring, but she has come through the run really well and I said to the owners that if she continues to come through it well we would pay the late nom and go to Sydney.
“She has only had six lifetime starts and she has just thrived on racing, she has got better and better every start.”
New Zealand-based jockey Hayden Tinsley has ridden Savaria in the majority of her race starts to date, but Bergerson said that the promising hoop was unlikely to make the trip Sydney to partner the Savabeel filly in the Australian Oaks.
Bergerson said that he is yet to speak to any Australian jockeys or managers, but he does not believe he will have any trouble finding a rider for the three-year-old on the back of her impressive performances this preparation.
“He has a bit of trouble riding 56 kilos and it is a long way to go if someone is half a kilo over,” Bergerson said.
“If they have a look at her form, in nearly every start she has run over the last 200 metres as the fastest horse on the entire program.
“She has a great turn-of-foot for a stayer and not many three-year-old fillies would run home in 11 seconds like she did.”
Savaria is currently available at 2015 Australian Oaks odds of $11 with Ladbrokes, while Set Square ($4.40) is a clear favourite from First Seal ($7), Winx ($7), Adrift ($9) and Ballet Suite ($11).
