Savatoxl set for WA debut in Winterbottom Stakes
Alice Springs trainer Will Savage is seeking further interstate success with his star performer Savatoxl having arrived in Western Australia.
Savage has based himself in Bunbury — 170km south of Perth — as he prepares his highly successful eight-year-old gelding for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on December 2 and the Group 3 Damien Oliver–Gold Rush (1400m) on December 16.
It took Savage and wife Cindy, along with Savatoxl, five days to travel the 4230km from the Red Centre to Bunbury via Port Augusta.
“We left on the Tuesday of last week and arrived on Saturday afternoon,” Savage said on Wednesday.
“I have flown to Perth for a sale, but I haven’t spent time here.
“It’s the first time I’ve brought a horse here.
“The appeal about coming to Perth is that there’s a couple of races that suit him.
“There’s a few good ones from Melbourne who have nominated for the Winterbottom and Gold Rush.
“We’ll have to wait and see if they come across. I was hoping to dodge them — don’t know if I will or not.
“Perth jockey Holly Watson will ride Savatoxl.”
Savatoxl, arguably the best horse to emanate from the Northern Territory, has already tasted interstate success.
The son of Kuroshio won the Group 1 Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville in 2021 and also won the Group 3 DC McKay Stakes (1100m) in Adelaide in 2021 and 2023.
DC McKay Stakes 2023 replay – Savatoxl – T: Will Savage
Savatoxl has won five races across both Morphettville tracks, and in August he finished second in the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes (1200m) and third in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at weight-for-age.
His other win outside the NT was at Caulfield in October 2021, when he saluted in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at weight-for-age.
With a rating of 105, Savage seeks out weight-for-age races — regardless of the location — to ensure that Savatoxl avoids the prohibitive tariffs that come with open handicaps.
He has raced in South Australia, Victoria and Queensland on 24 occasions since May 2019 and has racked up 19 wins — 13 in the NT — from 44 career starts.
With his WA debut imminent, Savatoxl has yet to race in NSW, Tasmania or the ACT, and the only other tracks where he has raced are Flemington, Moonee Valley, Eagle Farm, Sale and Balaklava.
“I’ve taken him to Brisbane and he didn’t seem to handle that way of going,” Savage said.
“I thought, ‘Well, there’s no point going back that way if he doesn’t handle it going clockwise.’”
Savatoxl finished 16th in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm two years ago.
Despite the long trip to WA, Savage confirmed that the gelding — with career earnings of $1.07 million — had settled in well at Bunbury.
“He’s used to travelling now — that part is no worries,” Savage said.
“He had Sunday off, I took him to the track on Monday, Tuesday and today.
“He was a little bit nervous the first time, but he’s eating up and improving every day.
“The girl that rides him in work said he feels beautiful, he worked well this morning.
“He will probably have a hitout on Friday and then I’ll be able to back him off again.
“We actually thought about coming last year, but it didn’t happen.
“This time, we thought, ‘Well, he’s had a bit of a let up again since his stint in Adelaide and Melbourne.’
“He’s ready for it.”
Savatoxl ran 11th last start in the Group 3 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley at weight-for-age on September 9, but Savage was far from disappointed.
“Unfortunately, he drew the outside gate (13), but he crossed over very easy to lead and travelled very well before he was taken on at the 1000m by Deny Knowledge,” he said.
“Savatoxl was taken on too far from home, both of them fell in a hole.”
Savatoxl was purchased by Savage at the Inglis Yearling Sale during the 2017 Alice Springs Cup Carnival and won nine of his first 10 career starts at Pioneer Park.