While Godolphin missed out on the big prize when Hanseatic was edged by Tagaloa in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes they settled for a pair of Group Twos after welcoming back La Trene to the winner’s circle after a year in the wilderness while Savatiano is racing in career-best form.
A 5yo daughter of Street Cry (IRE), Savatiano improved on her third behind White Moss in last year’s Group II Millie Fox Stakes when she left that mare in her wake at Rosehill on Saturday.
Making her first start since winning the inaugural $1 million The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle last November, Savatiano showed an elusive Group 1 is within her scope when defeating White Moss (Mossman) by two and three-quarter lengths with Invincible Gem (I Am Invincible) two lengths back in third.
"She's come back in tremendous order. I gave her a click at about the 500 metres and it was the wrong thing to do because she just towed me up behind them," wi8nning rider James McDonald told AAP.
"I thought she'd blow out after looking at her parade. She looked fat and I thought she'd need the run, but she was just way too good.
"She is a genuine Group 1 horse for sure."
That may come as soon as the next start for the James Cummings-trained mare, with the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick on March 7 under consideration.
Savatiano had a very productive 2019, winning the Group II Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield and Group III Glenlogan Park Stakes at Eagle Farm in addition to the rich The Hunter and was third in the Group 1 Tatt's Tiara.
With her fourth stakes win in the bag, Savatiano advances her overall record to 9 wins, 8 seconds and 3 thirds from 28 starts with earnings of $1,532,160
The daughter of Street Cry (IRE) is a half-sister to the stakes-placed 3yo Lonhro filly Athiri who placed in the Group II Blue Diamond Prelude, Group III Magic Night Stakes and Group III Kindergarten Stakes.
They are out of the winning Redoute’s Choice mare Retsina who is a daughter of the top-class racemare Star Shiraz who was purchased by Darley for $1,125,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale before on-selling her to Aquis Farm for $200,000 ten years later.
Restsina has a yearling colt by Hallowed Crown and a colt foal by Lonhro.
She was covered by Street Boss (USA) last spring.
Down at Caulfield, La Tene scored a fighting win in the Group II Angus Armanasco Stakes.
It was her first win for the 3yo daughter of Helmet since defeating Dalasan in the Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last March.
With Brad Rawiller in the saddle, La Tene staved off off the fast-finishing Lady Lupino (Akeed Mofeed) by a half head with Lunar Light (Choisir) one and a quarter lengths back in third.
"She didn't quite come up last preparation so we did the right thing and put her away and that patience has been rewarded," Cummings told AAP.
Cummings nominated next months Group II Kewney Stakes at Flemington as an immediate target with the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in May also under consideration.
"She's a three-year-old filly that could be well suited to Adelaide if I can prolong her preparation and at this stage she is showing she is enjoying it," Cummings said.
"She's versatile and she might not prove to get the distance, but one thing she has on her side is toughness."
La Tene advances her record to 3 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from 9 starts with earnings of $364,175.
A half-sister to the Listed ATC Civic Stakes and Listed HRC Rowley Mile winner Gaulois (Street Cry), La Tene is the fourth out of Lonhro's top-class daughter Celts whose four wins included the Group III ATC Birthday Card Stakes and Listed Macquarie Cup.
Celts' dam Dinna Flash (Canny Lad) is a half-sister to the honest sprinter Appoint (Alquoz) whose 11 wins included the Group III VATC Rubiton Stakes.
Celts has a yearling filly by Teofilo (IRE) named Ceilidh and a colt foal by Street Boss (USA).
She was covered by Hallowed Crown last spring.
