Trainer John O’Shea has revealed that he is considering setting classy three-year-old Savvy Nature for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) that will take place as part of The Championships next year.
The Doncaster Mile is on the agenda for Savvy Nature during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. Photo by: Steve Hart
Savvy Nature has been sent to the spelling paddock after he failed to fire after starting as one of the favourites in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 2 but O’Shea has already started plotting an autumn path for the son of Savabeel.
The promising gelding clearly failed to run out of the trip in the Victoria Derby and O’Shea has ruled out a tilt at the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m); with Savvy Nature to be restricted to races shorter than 2000 metres.
The Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) look like ideal races for Savvy Nature but O’Shea told Sky Racing HQ that he is eyeing the $3 million Doncaster Mile with the Mitchelton Wines Vase winner.
“He knew that he had had a run,” O’Shea said of Savvy Nature after the Victoria Derby.
“He had come a long way in a short space of time.
“I think in the autumn we don’t have to extend him beyond 2000 metres and put the question to him whether he is a mile and a half horse.
“There are plenty of races up to 2000 metres where he can be competitive and I might even run him in the Doncaster.
“One of his best performances was in the mile at Newcastle and that race traditionally has thrown out some good three-year-olds so hopefully he is another one.”
Savvy Nature started his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with an unlucky third place finish in the Rosehill Gardens Handicap (1400m) on August 31 before stamping himself as a Group 1 contender with a strong win in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle.
He was beaten as a well-backed favourite by Complacent in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) and again had his colours lowered by the Darley colt when he made his Group 1 debut in the Spring Champion Stakes (2040m).
Savvy Nature returned to the winners circle with a dominant three lengths victory in the Group 2 Mitchelton Wines Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day but was never a factor in the finish of the Victoria Derby.
Three-year-olds dominated this year’s edition of the Doncaster Handicap; with Sacred Falls claiming victory from Pierro and Norzita.
