After making a winning debut in a low-key Friday meeting at Canberra on January 21, the beautifully related Savabeel filly Tilianam made the quantum leap to stakes success in Saturday's Listed Darley Lonhro Plate (1000m) at Randwick.
Given a positive ride by Tim Clark, Tilianam tracked the early speed set by the favourite. Asked for a supreme effort 300m out, Tilianam hit the line strongly to defeat the fast-finishing Headwater filly Jamaea by a short-neck. Godolphin's Medaglia d'Oro (USA) filly Testimonial was a one and a half lengths further back in third.
"We gave her the experience of getting her away from home. The concern here was running her at a 1000m," Bott said.
"We have a few decisions to make. I don't think she is paid up for (Golden) Slipper.
"Being a filly by Savabeel out of New Zealand, we weren't necessarily expecting her to come up this early. Her professional attitude has allowed her to be so precocious.
"So we have a path to plot out and a few conversations with her owners. She showed today she has the ability to be there."
A three-quarter sister to the Group II winner Splurge (Savabeel), Tilianam was a $270,000 purchase by Gai Waterhouse / Adrian Bott out of the Waikato Stud draft at the 2020 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.
She is the best of two winners from three to race out of the stakes-placed Pins mare Spending.
A winner at Flemington, Spending was runner-up in the Listed VRC AR Creswick Stakes.
The daughter of Pins is a sister to Group II MRC Angus Armanasco Stakes winner Shopaholic and the Group III Arawa Stakes winner Packing Pins and a half-sister to Group II Manawatu Challenge Stakes winner Splurge.
Spending's Group III winning dam Splashing Out (O'Reilly) was runner-up in the Group 1 VRC Ascot Vale Stakes. She is a three-quarter sister to 4-time Group 1 winner, Sacred Falls.
Mark Newnham purchased a full-brother to Tilianam for $120,000 at the recent NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.
Tilianam becomes the 111th stakes-winner for Waikato Stud's flagship stallion Savabeel.
