Savvy Hallie has caused a minor Light Fingers Stakes upset, outsprinting odds-on favourite Apocalyptic to take out the first three-year-old fillies feature of the Sydney carnival.
After dominating the Princess Series in the spring, Apocalyptic was sent out a $1.50 favourite with Savvy Hallie considered her only serious threat as a $3.70 chance.
The Brad Widdup-trained second elect proved more than up to the task, controlling the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) from the front and defying Apocalyptic to run her down to score by three-quarters of a length.
Apocalyptic’s jockey Tommy Berry said the favourite faced a difficult task once Savvy Hallie got an uncontested 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 was all smiles, adding Nash Rawiller’s decision to take up the running then make his rivals chase was a winning one.
“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.”
Widdup confirmed plans to stretch Savvy Hallie to 1400m for the first time in the Group 1 Surround Stakes next start when she will face a rematch with Apocalyptic and outstanding filly Tempted, who downed the colts and geldings to win the Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) first-up.
Rawiller said he didn’t plan to lead, but took the bulls by the horns when he found himself in front and had enough faith in the filly to shake her up at the top of the straight and put the pressure back on her rivals.
“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.”
