Holidaying Katelyn Mallyon rides NZ winner aboard Savvy Dreams
The Group 1 winning jockey is visiting with her partner, top jockey James MacDonald, and took the opportunity to secure rides at the Hawke’s Bay New Year’s Day meeting.
The class of horse and rider shone through in an impressive return to the winner’s circle for the four-year-old Savabeel mare.
Bred by Tony Rider at Milan Park in Cambridge, she is raced by the breeder along with Grant Julian, Kelvyn Marshall, Roger Small Wendy Spurdle and the Storming Home Syndicate.
They have endured highs and lows with the Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained mare.
A third behind Bonneval in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and a previous second to the same filly in the Gr. 3 Lowland Stakes (2100m) set up an Australian campaign.
Things went awry when she was late scratched at the barrier for the Group 1 SA Oaks but she hit back with a fourth placing in the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m).
She had one more unplaced run in her four-race campaign before returning home for a spell.
She was having her second run back following a fresh-up third over 1200m, the same distance as Monday’s winning effort in 1:10.78. Her trainers will now concentrate on elite racing with the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on January 20 her next assignment, followed by the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 18.
“She’s doing everything right,” Guy Lowry said. “We’ve tried to look after her and she has come back well this time in.
“I think 2000 metres is her pet distance but I didn’t want to take the sprint out of her and that’s why we’ve kept her at 1200 metres.”
Mallyon was impressed with the win and was keen to return for the Thorndon.
“She was keen to stick with her but we’ve got Samantha Collett booked and she will keep the ride.