Three year old Savvy Nature had to pass a veterinary examination following a stable scare before scoring a decisive win in the Group 3 $150,000 Coca-Cola Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle today.
John O'Shea, above, prepared Savvy Nature to win the Spring Stakes at Newcastle. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The John O’Shea trained gelding slipped over at his Randwick stables early in the week sustaining abrasions to his wither but was passed fit to run when he arrived at the track today.
Savvy Nature ($6.50) showed no signs of any injury as jockey James McDonald eased him to the middle of the track to score a comfortable two lengths win over Wordplay ($8) with Happy Clapper ($6) a nose away in third spot.
Race favourite Fuerza ($3.90) set a genuine pace with Jim Cassidy and after leading the field into the straight felt the pinch at the 200m when the challengers emerged from the pack and faded to finish tenth.
McDonald on Savvy Nature swooped to the front at the 150m and drew away, indicating that the 2000m of the Group 1 $400,000 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on October 12 would be to his liking.
Savvy Nature has been in the placings at his three previous starts with a debut win over 1400m at Kembla Grange on May 11 then finished second over 1550m at Canterbury before O’Shea sent the Savabeel three year old out for a short break.
His first up run when third over 1400m at Rosehill on August 31 was the stepping stone for his win in the Spring Stakes and O’Shea is hoping he will continue to improve.
Runner-up Wordplay pleased trainer Anthony Cummings in the way she worked hard to the line from back in the field and he will give the Fastnet Rock filly her chance against better company during the Spring Carnival.
Wordplay is nominated for the Spring Champion Stakes and the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 16 and he also has the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 7 on the agenda.
“The idea is to get her to the Oaks in Melbourne,” Cummings told AAP.
“She’s in the Spring Champion Stakes and the Thousand Guineas.”
