Savanna Amour in G1 hunt after Guineas win

Classy filly Savanna Amour has defied a betting drift and foiled a plunge on runner-up Heroic Valour to win the Group Three Gold Coast Guineas.

Savanna Amour blew from $7.50 to $16 on Saturday before winning the Guineas by half a head from Heroic Valour, which was heavily backed from $5.50 to $4.20.

Trainer John Meagher said the Guineas was the perfect race for Savanna Amour to being her winter carnival campaign.

“We also had her in the Silk Stocking but she drew perfectly in the Guineas so it was an easy decision in the end,” Meagher said.

“She won a Group race at Caulfield before a let-up and has picked up another one here so the plan is now to look at a couple of Group One races in Brisbane down the track.”

The Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm on June 24 is an obvious goal for Savanna Amour but Meagher hinted the $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap on June 10 is not out of the question if she manages to qualify.

Jockey Ron Stewart praised Savanna Amour’s courage when she was challenged by Heroic Valour in the straight.

“I probably hit the lead too early in the straight but certainly showed a ton of guts when it came to the crunch,” Stewart said.

Jockey Opie Bosson said Heroic Valour tried valiantly to overhaul Savanna Amour and would benefit from the run, which was his first since finishing fourth at Te Rapa on February 11.