Savvy Hallie produced a slight boilover in the Light Fingers Stakes, surging clear of hot favourite Apocalyptic to claim the initial three-year-old fillies highlight of the Sydney carnival.
Apocalyptic, fresh off a strong showing in the Princess Series last spring, jumped as the $1.50 elect while Savvy Hallie was rated her chief rival at $3.70.
Brad Widdup’s charge, next in the market, handled the assignment superbly by leading throughout the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) and resisting Apocalyptic’s challenge to win by three-quarters of a length.
Jockey Tommy Berry on Apocalyptic commented that the favourite encountered problems once Savvy Hallie stole an easy lead.
“It was always going to make it hard from the home turn onwards,” Berry said.
“The leader got a picnic there in front. That was always a possibility.
“I like the way she hit the line late. She will be better suited at the 1400 metres.”
Widdup grinned broadly, crediting Nash Rawiller’s bold front-running tactics that made competitors play catch-up.
“Good, positive ride. That’s why we put these guys (top jockeys) on,” Widdup said.
“I haven’t used Nash a lot for no other reason than we can’t get him, so it was nice to get him.”
The trainer outlined next steps for Savvy Hallie, eyeing a 1400m test in the Group 1 Surround Stakes where she’ll clash again with Apocalyptic and star filly Tempted, who beat the colts and geldings in the Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) on resumption.
Nash Rawiller noted he wasn’t set on leading but grabbed the role when clear upfront, confident enough in the filly to press on before the rise and turn the screw.
“I had enough confidence in her not to wait for them,” Rawiller said.
“I thought, gee I’ve had all the favours here, I can afford to go before topping the rise and make them chase me down.
“A few of them may have looked like they were coming at some stage of the race but she was always going to be able to find something over the last hundred.”
Check out the top Australian betting sites for the best prices on future Light Fingers Stakes-style races.
The post Savvy Rawiller pinches Light Fingers Stakes on Hallie first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
