With the majority of the field catalogued for the National Broodmare Sale, Magic Millions owner Gerry Harvey had more than a passing interest in Saturday's Group III Grinders Coffee Roasters Stakes at Eagle Farm but Godolphin homebred Savatiano proved to be the spoiler.
The four-year-old daughter of Street Cry (IRE) had been winless since capturing the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong back in August last year. (image Steve Hart)
With Tommy Berry in the saddle, Savatiano dominated the finish, defeating the frontrunning Quilista (Scandal Keeper) by two and three-quarter lengths with Eckstein (I Am Invincible) a half-length back in third.
Winning trainer James Cummings said the race set up well for the Street Cry (IRE) mare.
"It was a perfect storm with the leader wanting to go a bit hard and we could sit on her," Cummings told AAP.
"Tom has been riding very well in Sydney and he carried that form over here.
"I have tried a few different riders on Savatiano since her last win but Tom has the key to her."
Cummings said Savatiano will be kept in training.
"She is fit and I reckon she can win a third stakes race now," he said.
Bred by Darley, Savatiano is the first foal of the winning Redoute's Choice mare Retsina who is a daughter of the crack racemare Star Shiraz (Sequalo),
A $15,000 yearling purchase by trainer Rex Lipp, Star Shiraz won six and placed in seven of her 27 starts with earnings of $859,400.
Her highlight came when winning the Group 1 QTC Sires' Produce Stakes and was runner-up in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic and Group 1 QTC TJ Smith Classic.
Star Shiraz was purchased by Darley for $1,125,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale before being sold at Aquis Farm for $200,000 ten years later.
Retsina has a 3yo filly Medaglia D'Oro (USA) named Athens who finished third at her career debut at Kembla Grange a fortnight back.
Retsina's 2yo Lonhro filly Athiri has yet to win a stakes race though she rates among the best juveniles of the season.
She defeated subsequent stakes winners Accession and Stronger when making her career debut at Rosehill last December and has placed in the Group II Blue Diamond Prelude, Group III Magic Night Stakes and Group III Kindergarten Stakes.
Last year her Exosphere colt died after birth, while last spring she foaled a colt by Hallowed Crown before being covered by Lonhro.
