The lightly raced 3yo Savabeel filly Avebury earned a valuable black-type success in Monday’s Listed Iron Jack Canberra Guineas.
Well fancied to in the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate in January, Avebury finished a troubled ninth before breaking her maiden over 1200m at Kembla Grange a month later.
At her most recent start, the daughter of Savabeel finished second over 1500m at Newcastle.
With Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle, Avebury defeated the fast-finishing Tivaci filly Wolverine by one and a quarter length, with a further three-quarter length back to the Your Song filly Smooth Sailing.
McEvoy said it did not go to plan early.
“ I did not have a lot of cover, and John had said to ride her quiet to get some cover, and she was a little closer than we thought,” McEvoy said.
“Full credit to the filly. She was able to get into a commanding spot from 600m onwards, and she was strong at the finish.
“I have not ridden her even in trackwork, so I was going off videos, and from what John had told me. He said to forget about her last start, she is in better order, and he was right; she was able to pick up and gave a good finish.
“She is only lightly raced and is improving all the time. I’m sure there is a 1400m fillies race at Randwick in a few weeks, which I’m sure John will aim at, and she will hold her own as she is going in the right direction.”
A $200,000 purchase for her trainer from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Avebury is a sister to the Group 1 Queensland Derby runner-up Paternal.
Her dam O’Dianne (O’Reilly), is a daughter of the Group III Frances Tressady Stakes winner, Breezy (Pins).
Mulcaster Bloodstock/Chris Waller Racing shelled out $450,000 for a Super Seth colt consigned by Sledmere Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent for Waikato Stud), to the Magic Millions in January.
Avebury is the 134th stakes-winner for Waikato Stud’s Savabeel.
