Will Savage happy with Perth trip despite Savatoxl failure
Savatoxl may not have conquered the west, but Alice Springs trainer Will Savage has no regrets making the 4230km trek to Perth for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Damien Oliver Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot.
Both races had a $1.5 million purse, with Savatoxl finishing 16th in the Winterbottom on December 2 and 13th in the Gold Rush on December 16.
To have had a runner in the Gold Rush is an occasion Savage won’t easily forget after Damien Oliver pulled off a miraculous win aboard the Nick Ryan-trained Manhamek in the champion jockey’s final ever race.
“Taking Savatoxl to Perth was a good experience, he went alright,” Savage said from Ceduna in western South Australia on Wednesday en route back to Alice Springs.
“There was a big atmosphere at Ascot on Saturday, the whole city of Perth got behind Damien Oliver — it was a top day, that’s for sure.
“I actually thought Manhamek was one of the hardest to beat, but he wasn’t in good shape at the home turn.
“To be honest, I wasn’t watching Manhemek in the run because I watching my bloke.
“When he won I sort of thought, ‘well, that was fitting’.
“The roar of the crowd when Damien hit the front was deafening.
“Everyone stood up, it was just electrifying — I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”
Savatoxl, an eight-year-old gelding, has tasted interstate success in South Australia and Victoria, including a Group 1 triumph in The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville in 2021.
Savage, who purchased the horse at the Inglis Yearling Sale during the 2017 Alice Springs Cup Carnival, had every right to dream big when Savatoxl won nine of his first 10 starts in the Red Centre.
For two years, the son of Kuroshio raced in Darwin for trainer Gary Clarke and then in Victoria, SA and Queensland for Ballarat trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy before heading back to the Northern Territory at the end of 2022.
Under Savage’s guidance, Savatoxl returned to racing in April and won his first race at Pioneer Park in three years during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival.
It was then off to Adelaide, Darwin, back to Adelaide and then Melbourne before heading to Perth for the first time.
Savage had every reason to be excited when the gelding settled in front in both Ascot features and led into the home straight before the backmarkers swooped at the 200m.
Having enjoyed his time in WA, Savage said that Savatoxl gave it his best shot.
“I was actually stabled at Bunbury,” he said.
“They’ve got a beautiful course there and everything was nice.
“Savatoxl fitted in well there, he was very happy.
“The facilities at Ascot were first class, and the track was in good condition.
“The Perth experience was definitely up there with Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane, that’s for sure.
“I just wish I hadn’t missed a couple of important gallops in Alice Springs before we went over, but that was unavoidable.
“He was fit and definitely improved in the Gold Rush, and although I don’t like to make excuses he was a bit under done to start with.
“But as far as that goes the horse is fine, he’s pulled up good and he’ll keep going.
“Nothing planned for him right now, but we’re heading home now and we’ll weigh up where we’re going to go from there.”
Savage expects to be home by the weekend, and it will be straight back to work following recent confirmation that the Alice Springs Cup Carnival will start earlier in 2024.
Instead of kicking off in early April and ending on the first Sunday in May, the five days of racing will commence on March 17 with Cup Day set for April 7.
Apart from Savatoxl, who is bound for the paddock, Savage has 10 other horses, and he confessed before leaving for Perth that they wouldn’t return until February.
“My horses are all having a little break, but as soon as I get home I’ll get them going again,” he said.