Randwick

Canterbury Stakes (Group 1)

THE Street Cry mare Savatiano, twice placed at Group 1 level and a five-time Group 2 winner, finally broke through for that most elusive of wins, landing the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman for James Cummings the six-year-old, runner-up in the race last year, hit the front 300 metres out to break clear and then just hold on as the Zoustar mare Mizzy failed by a nose to get the result, consigning trainer Anthony Cummings to second behind his son.

Third was the Tornado gelding Masked Crusader.

“I think they (Godolphin) have been thinking about retiring her for three seasons,’’ said James Cummings. “But she is now a deserving Group 1 winner. She had won over A$2 million in prize money without winning that Group 1 so outside of Classique Legend [The Everest winner] there wouldn’t be too many other horses around the world to do that.

“It’s a great effort by Savatiano. She had a perfect preparation for this race and she was the deserving winner.”

Randwick Guineas (Group 1)

THE bubble burst on the previously unbeaten Aegon in Saturday’s Group 1 Randwick Guineas on Saturday as the Sacred Falls gelding lacked the snap to go with the contenders when required.

Fifth to Aegon two weeks earlier, the John O’Shea-trained Lion’s Roar lived up to his second placing in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes last spring to break through at the highest level.

“It’s fantastic,” said John O’Shea. “Just an unbelievable effort. In the run he was just bolting and came with his big action down the outside. Brenton (Avdulla) was cool as a cucumber.

“He’s been a work in progress. The Rosehill Guineas has always been our main target race, so to pick up this race along the way is very good.

“He’s a serious horse with a great ownership group. I’ve got my mum and dad in it. I couldn’t sell a share in it. He was going well as a two-year-old so I advised them to take a small share.”

Winning by just over a length, the Contributer gelding, a NZ$65,000 New Zealand Bloodstock yearling, beat the fast-finishing Mo’unga, a colt by Savabeel.

The Joseph Pride-trained Eduardo carved out a new track record at Randwick, stopping the clock at 55.20 for the 1,000 metres to land the Group 2 Challenge Stakes. Darting through to the lead with ears pricked on jumping, Eduardo got the perfect sit behind Group 1 winner Nature Strip mid-race as the race favourite took up the running. Not to be denied Eduardo dug in, though looked beaten till the final stride.

“When he got headed, I said he”ll fight,” said Pride. “You could see he was in for the battle. It was an amazing performance.”