Talented stayer Savoir Faire staked his claim for next month’s Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) with a commanding victory in the A$130,000 John Duff & Co The Lester (2025m) at Cranbourne on Saturday.
The Savabeel gelding began his career with nine starts in New Zealand, scoring a maiden win at Matamata and finishing third in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m), fifth in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) and sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).
Savoir Faire has added another three wins to that record since relocating across the Tasman to join the Cranbourne branch of the Te Akau operation. His 20-start career has now produced four wins, eight placings and A$208,666 in prize-money.
The five-year-old went into Saturday’s race in promising form, with his first two starts of the preparation producing a third over 1600m at Moe and a second in last weekend’s Donald Cup (1620m). Savoir Faire relished the step back up to a middle-distance on Saturday and won with ease.
Patiently ridden by Damian Lane, Savoir Faire settled in fifth in a strung-out field as a strong pace was being set out in front.
Savoir Faire began to roll into contention coming up to the home turn, and he hit the front with 200m remaining. There was little doubt about the result from there as Savoir Faire kicked away to score a comfortable win by a length and three-quarters.
“The race unfolded really well,” Lane said. “The speed was crazy. I was really happy with where I was. I expected the race to be a speed battle, and it was just great viewing from where I was. I was able to come into the race at the right time, and he was too good when it counted.
“Hopefully he can take another step forward from here and go on to that Pakenham Cup sort of level.”
The A$300,000 Pakenham Cup will be run on December 21.
“He was arguably probably a little bit underdone, but the plan has always been to go to the Pakenham Cup,” said Ben Gleeson, assistant trainer to Mark Walker. “He was third-up over 2000m, and I think he was two-for-two in that state and now three-for-three, so it’s just panned out perfectly.
“Damian's ride was 10 out of 10, just exceptional. That's why you put good jockeys like him on. It was his first sit on the horse, and before the race we just said, get cover, let him suck up and travel as long as you can and he just did it all to a tee.
“After he won a race well in May, Mark decided to tip him out and give him a good period off just to let his body mature, and I think that’s been massive.”
By Savabeel out of the O’Reilly mare Etiquette, Savoir Faire is a brother to dual Group Three winner Milford and was bred by Waikato Stud.
Savoir Faire was purchased by David Ellis for a sale-topping $640,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale from the draft of Ohukia Lodge.