Pint-sized Savabeel gelding Bassett took 16 starts to earn his first stakes win but just one more for his second, which came with a typically gritty performance in Saturday's Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington.
The final leg of a 4-timer for 19-year-old apprentice Mertens, Bassett gradually wore down a stubborn Prussian Vixen (King Of Prussia) to score by a half-head with Well Sprung (Star Witness) a half-length back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)
Trainer Mick Price said the son of Savabeel has earned a short break.
"He's
"I reckon he'll have a breather now and we might investigate a race like the Goodwood with him fresh. I don't want to go too deep and take him to Sydney.
"He's stabled in the fillies barn and gets trained like a filly so we'll just keep him like that and look at better races with him.
"He did a superb job today, to get used in the first 600 (metres) and then fight and fight, I thought it was outstanding."
A last start winner of the Listed Abell Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, Bassett was placed in the Group III Carbine Club Stakes, Group III Zeditave Stakes and Listed Goodwood Racecourse Trophy at three.
Bred by Qatar Bloodstock, Bassett advances his record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 4 thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $371,900.
A $60,000 purchase by Moody Racing from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2014 NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale at Karaka, Bassett is the first foal of the stakes-placed Captain Rio mare Fledgling a half-sister to Group I ARC Diamond Stakes winner Fully Fledged (Align).
She has a colt foal by Charm Spirit (IRE) and was bred back to the son of Invincible Spirit last spring.
Waikato Stud's champion stallion Savabeel has three lots on offer at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale. (View them here)
