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Five-year-old becomes first Group 1 winner for Kuroshio
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Savatoxl (5 g ex Li'l Miss Hayley by Savabeel) won Saturday's The Goodwood (Gr 1, 1200m) becoming the first Group 1 winner for his former Darley-based sire Kuroshio (Exceed And Excel).
Originally trained by Will Savage in Alice Springs before a brief stint in Darwin with Gary Clarke, Savatoxl finished second in the 2019 Darwin Cup (2000m) and was transferred to the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable last September with a view to winning the Balaklava Cup (Listed, 1600m). However, McEvoy senior said the son of Kuroshio failed to run the 1600 metre trip at that level and the decision was made to keep Savatoxl to sprinting.
It proved an inspired move and under the urgings of Barend Vorster, Savatoxl, who started a $19 chance, raced to a two-length win from Instant Celebrity (Not A Single Doubt) with the $2.70 favourite Gytrash (Lope De Vega) a long-neck away third.
"It's a bit surreal," Tony McEvoy said.
"The ownership group had enough faith in him to send him down. He'd won a Guineas in Darwin, he'd run a placing in the Darwin Cup but in the Balaklava Cup he just didn't run the mile at this level.
"I asked if he could go back sprinting and they agreed.
"He didn't have the pace today after he began beautifully but Barend was beautiful and showed all of his experience and allowed him to get into his nice rhythm and not panic.
"It was lovely to see him dart through."
For South African Vorster it was his second Group 1 win after settling in Australia after a long stint in Singapore.
Vorster won the 2019 Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) on Sunlight (Zoustar) soon after relocating, but said Saturday's win was extra special in his hometown.
"To get one at home in South Australia it is special and when it's not with an odds-on favourite, it's even better," Vorster said.
"He's not very tall but he's very strong in himself. He's got a good strong girth and quickens up really well.
"I was pleased today that they kept going wide and they never used the inside, so it worked out for us."
Bred by Carrington Park and bought for just $8,000 by Alice Springs Turf Club from Stonehouse Thoroughbreds at the 2017 Inglis Melbourne VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale, Savatoxl has now won 16 of his 28 career starts and his earnings now total $725,140.
Savatoxl is one of four winners and the only stakes winner out of placed mare Li'l Miss Hayley who is herself a half-sister to the dam of Group 3 winners Art Beat (Captain Rio) and Perfect Start (Perfectly Ready).
Having foaled a filly by Needs Further (Encosta De Lago) in 2019, Li'l Miss Hayley was covered again by that sire last September.
Savatoxl is one of three winners for Kuroshio, Group 3 winners Kurious and La Rocque the others, who now resides at Starfield Stud in Ireland where his 2021 fee was set at €6,000.
The win provided Waikato Stud's champion sire Savabeel (Zabeel) with his first Group 1 winner as a broodmare sire. Savatoxl is one of 12 stakes winners out of mares by the son of Zabeel (Sir Tristram) that include Group 2 winning trio Not An Option, Fascino and Tokorangi.
