Yarraman Park’s Hellbent has made his name with brilliant Group I winning mares Magic Time and Benedetta with exciting filly Savvy Hallie adding her name his list of stakes-winners with a stylish victory in the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Placed in Group company during the autumn behind Nepotism and Tempted, the Brad Widdup trained filly was dispatched to Newcastle last week to get rid of her maiden tag which she duly did with a five length romp over 900m.
Brought back into elite company on Saturday with Jay Ford to ride, Savvy Hallie relished the heavy ground to stalk the leader and race favourite Agarwood before charging past her with a furlong to run.
She was strong to the line winning by nearly a length over class filly Within the Law (Lucky Vega (IRE) with the late closer Queen of Clubs (Maurice Jpn) stamping herself as a real filly to follow over further.
Savvy Hallie has the overall record of two wins and three seconds from six starts with prizemoney topping $460,000 and Brad Widdup will now look to the remaining legs of the Darley Princess Series in coming weeks.
“It's great for Brad (Hunt) and Benny (Vassallo), they've been big supporters for a long time, and you know it's just nice to have a filly like that,” said a delighted Brad Widdup, who credited the owners for encouraging him to run today on the heavy.
“She's brilliant, isn't she? It's great when they handle a track like this and it was a great call to run today, so I'll give them a bit of credit there, it’s very exciting. to see her come out and do that.”
The Darley Princess Series progresses through the Group II ATC Furious Stakes (1200m), Group II Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and Group I Flight Stakes (1600m).
“I'm not sure if she's going to be too brilliant for a mile. We'll just see, we'll probably aim up in a fortnight (Furious Stakes) and then see how we go from there,” Widdup added.
Sold through the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale draft of Baramul Stud for $150,000 to Belmont Bloodstock Agency, the filly was then re-offered by Riverstone Lodge at the Inglis Classic yearling sale where current owner B K Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd went to $320,000 to secure the athletic bay.
Savvy Hallie was the most expensive yearling by Hellbent sold in 2024.
Bred by Gerry Harvey, she is the second winner from Rose of Savannah, a winning Fastnet Rock grand-daughter of dual Group I winner Savannah Success, dam of champion sire Savabeel.
Savvy Hallie is the eighth stakes-winner for Hellbent, who stands at a fee of $38,500 this spring.
