SAVEPATROL CONFIRMED FOR AUCKLAND AFTER TRIAL
Class pacer Saveapatrol did everything asked of him in cool conditions on a drying track at the Addington trials on Monday, May 15.
Saveapatrol, with Blair Orange wearing Regan Todd’s colours, hits out strongly in the run home at the Addington trials.
With two Rangiora workouts under his belt in this preparation, the Christian Cullen gelding was given a slightly more searching run, despite having only two rivals for company in the C1 and faster pace.
After trailing three back from his 40m handicap, driver Blair Orange sent him forward in the open at the 600m for a strong final section.
He ran clear of pacemaker True Legend (front), and trailer Florin (20m), turning for home and hit out well in the run home, coming clear by 4 3/4 lengths.
The lightly-raced 5YO paced the 2600m in 3:18.4 (useful 2:02.7 mile rate in the conditions), with the leaders running their last 800m in 57.5s and final 400m in 27.7s.
“Saveapatrol heads north over the weekend and races Auckland on Friday week (June 26),” said trainer Mark Jones.
“We then decide after the race on a Queensland campaign but it looks likely at this stage,” he added.
Saveapatrol, providing he races well at Auckland, could aim for back-to-back Group One features at Albion Park, Brisbane, the $A100,000 Sunshine Sprint on July 4, followed by the $A125,000 Blacks A Fake, on July 18.
The winner of 10 of just 16 starts, Saveapatrol hasn’t raced since his third behind retired champions, Terror To Love and Adore Me, in the Group One 2014 Auckland Cup 15 months ago.
By Jeff Scott