Savatiano outfoxes G2 rivals at Rosehill

Savatiano is on track for a Group One autumn campaign after a first-up win at Rosehill.

Group One racing again beckons Savatiano and she has shown she is up for the challenge with her Millie Fox Stakes win at Rosehill.

White Moss was attempting a defence of the Group Two 1300m-race on Saturday after beating I Am Serious and Savatiano a year ago.

Since then, Savatiano has finished third in the Group One Tatt’s Tiara in her final start as a four-year-old and won the Tristarc Stakes and the inaugural $1 million The Hunter in spring.

Trained by James Cummings for Godolphin, Savatiano was the $2 favourite with the Jason Coyle-trained White Moss the $4.80 second-elect.

That was how they finished with Savatiano putting 2-3/4 lengths on her rival and earning high praise from her jockey James McDonald.

“She’s come back in tremendous order. I gave her a click at about the 500 metres and it was the wrong thing to do because she just towed me up behind them,” McDonald said.

“I thought she’d blow out after looking at her parade. She looked fat and I thought she’d need the run but she was just way too good.

“She is a genuine Group One horse for sure.”

Godolphin representative Darren Beadman said as usual her next step would be up to Cummings but the Canterbury Stakes loomed large.

“She is aggressive and wants to win,” he said.

“It was pleasing to see her return in such good fashion.

“The important thing with her was to get the first half of the race right, switch her off. We thought they would be the two horses up front toughing it out.

“She was a Group Two winner last time and also won The Hunter but she has gone to a new level today and James feels a race like the Canterbury Stakes would suit her.”

Kathy O’Hara rode the consistent White Moss and was pleased with her performance while admitting the winner was in a different league.

“She ran really well,” O’Hara said.

“The winner was miles too good for us but she gapped the rest of them.”