Written by Paul Vettise
Love Affair (NZ) (Savabeel) is making up for lost time in grand fashion and she has another gilt-edged opportunity to add to her future value when she steps out at Te Rapa.
Successful last time out in the G3 Eagle Technology S. at Ellerslie, she will attempt to go one better in the G2 Cal Isuzu S. after finishing runner-up 12 months ago behind Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who will again oppose her.
Love Affair then looked set to go to another level, but the wheels fell off at her next appearance when she was a well beaten favourite in the G1 Thorndon Mile.
“She ran poorly at Trentham, way below average, and we got the chiropractor in but I don’t know how effective they are,” breeder and owner Garry Chittick said.
“Then she had a wash put on her and it took half of her hair off.” - Garry Chittick.
“Then she had a wash put on her and it took half of her hair off. I’m not sure why that happened, it was a mistake somewhere, but that was her autumn gone.
Love Affair after her victory in the G3 Eagle Technology S.
“We were contemplating taking her to Australia this spring, but we decided to back off and we will definitely look at that in the autumn of next year if she holds together.
“She hasn’t been served so she will race on and we like racing nice horses. They are very hard to get and we’re happy with her and she will be mated next year.”
Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Love Affair has won six of her 12 starts and a record that could have read even better, according to the Waikato Stud patriarch and New Zealand Racing Hall of Famer.
“It’s a tough field, but Murray has always held her in very high regard and you have to say there have been a few unfortunate rides on her.” - Garry Chittick.
“It’s a tough field, but Murray has always held her in very high regard and you have to say there have been a few unfortunate rides on her,” Chittick said.
Love Affair
Love Affair is a daughter of unraced O’Reilly (NZ) (Last Tycoon {IRE}) mare Romancing (NZ), who is a sister to the Listed Winter Championship S. winner Salsa (NZ) and a half-sister to the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner Somepin Anypin (NZ) (Pins).
“It’s a very good family and Romancing hasn’t had a foal this year, but she’s in foal to Savabeel again and she’s got an Ocean Park filly (Lot 340) going to Karaka next year,” Chittick said.
Impressive record
Love Affair is one of 11 stakes winners already this season for the Matamata farm’s multiple champion stallion Savabeel (Zabeel {NZ}), who has emphasised his versatility in recent years and lifted his tally of 2-year-old stakes winners to 13.
His most recent was Aotea Lad (NZ), successful on debut in the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. at Trentham on debut.
Savabeel
“In his first crop he had two in Australia and then he went through that traditional flat period and one year only had 53 foals,” Chittick said.
“I don’t think he’s getting better or worse mares to him and he could end up with three runners in the Karaka Million.
“Early on, I don’t think his 2-year-olds were tried as much because of their breeding and the Zabeel factor and we were a bit the same. “ - Garry Chittick.
“Early on, I don’t think his 2-year-olds were tried as much because of their breeding and the Zabeel factor and we were a bit the same.
“We don’t usually race many 2-year-olds, at least not until late autumn so it could have been a psychological thing.
“He’s out of a Success Express mare and he was a champion 2-year-old in America and won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile so that might be where it comes from.
“Stallions reach a platform, but Savabeel is going from strength to strength across the board.”
At the end of the 2017-18 term, Savabeel claimed his fourth straight New Zealand Sires’ Premiership, his third consecutive Dewar Award (combined Australian and New Zealand progeny earnings) and third Centaine Award (combined progeny earnings worldwide).
