Southland trainer Robert Dennis fluctuates in his description of talented staying mare Savezar (NZ) (Savabeel) but always within the range of “quirky” and “mad”.
He concedes the Savabeel mare constantly tests his patience and more than once he has considered moving her on from his stable.
But his persistence with the mare has already reaped rewards and could yet produce an immensely satisfying payoff if she could win Saturday’s Listed Alleviate Administration Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui.
“She’s quite a handful at the best of times and very, very moody,” Dennis said.
“We run around after her trying to keep her happy. But she’s mad. She’s in a paddock away from the other horses and she has a big box away from the other horses. She’s the first horse we work each day.
“I don’t know how many times I’ve thought about telling the owners I’d like to move her along. I came pretty close earlier on but she’s obviously been pretty rewarding for us. Horses like her that do take a bit of work but get the results are really satisfying at the same time.”
Formerly with Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Savezar joined Dennis as a one-win mare last August.
In seven starts for his stable, she has never finished worse than fourth, winning three times, including the Waikouaiti Cup (2200m) at Wingatui last month with a dazzling late turn of foot after she was pocketed behind the leader without a clear run most of the way down the straight.
“She shouldn’t have been able to win from where she was the other day. Horses don’t usually do that. She was very impressive,” Dennis said.
“She’s more or less taken the race in her stride. It didn’t knock her around too much and her work since has been good. Because she’s so highly-strung, I don’t give her too much work. She keeps herself naturally fit and that’s been the way with her since she arrived here.
“I just make sure she gets to the races in one piece as a fit, happy horse and she’s showing us what she’s capable of.”
TAB bookmakers have Savezar as a shortening $3.30 favourite for the Dunedin Gold Cup and while Dennis was confident she was in top condition for the race, rain in the region over the past few days which has led to the track rating of Slow 7 on Friday has added an element of doubt.
“If the rain hadn’t come, I’d be reasonably confident. She’s beaten pretty much all of these horses before but with the rain, it’s a bit more up in the air,” he said.
“As long as she copes with the conditions, she’ll be right there in the finish. We’ll run her anyway because this has been the target. If she puts in on a wet track, she’ll be fine.”
Savezar joined Dennis after part-owner Jack Stewart, of White Robe Lodge, organised a group of owners to race her in the south on lease.
“My plan is to give her a let-up after Saturday and set her for the Breeders Stakes’ (Gr.3, 1600m) at Riccarton on March 26 and then go on to the Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr.3, 2000m) at Riccarton on April 23.
“We don’t really know what her level is. She’s pretty good at a mile too.”
Dennis will also start Ocean Point and Heidi Hi on the undercard at Wingatui.
“Ocean Point loves the track and distance and I don’t think the wet track will worry her too much. She’s got a nice light weight, good jockey and she’s come through her trip away to Trentham really well. We’re quietly confident with her.
“Heidi Hi is always running on, even after the finish, but she gives me the impression she doesn’t really yet know what to do. If she can just knuckle down and give 100 per cent, she could be a handy horse.
