Former Savatoxl trainer Will Savage eyes Alice Springs feature

[Wandering Eyes]

Will Savage (inset) was the original trainer of Savatoxl in Alice Springs before he went on to achieve success at a Group 1 level by winning The Goodwood in Adelaide. The Red Centre trainer is looking for success in the Queen Of The Desert Handicap (1200m) with Cut It Out at Pioneer Park today (Main Photo – Nikki Westover Photography)

AS the trainer of Savatoxl at the start of his illustrious career, Alice Springs trainer Will Savage certainly enjoyed a wonderful ride.

Debuting as a two-year-old in March 2018, Savatoxl won his first two races in the Red Centre over 1000m before coming fifth in his next start over 1200m.

Returning as a three-year-old, the gelding won six straight at Pioneer Park – including the NT Guineas (1600m) and Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) in 2019.

To cap off a busy 2019 Alice Springs Cup Carnival, Savatoxl finished third in Alice Springs Cup (2000m) before he stamped his class in Darwin, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.

He had one final win for Savage in Alice Springs at weight-for-age level over 1200m in April 2020.

Savatoxl then endured an outstanding Darwin Cup Carnival in 2020 for leading Top End trainer Gary Clarke before linking with South Australian trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy.

In Adelaide, Savatoxl had three wins before taking out last year’s Group 1 Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville as a $19 chance with the top betting sites and the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

“I’ve had some good ones over the years, but probably none better than Savatoxl though,” Savage said.

Savage hopes to scale the dizzy heights in a feature Alice Springs race once again when former Victorian mare Cut It Out (Casey Hunter) lines up in the $30,000 JJ’s Waste Queen Of The Desert 0-76 Handicap (1200m) on Friday.

Boasting respectable Victorian form, including a win at Moonee Valley over 1000m, Cut It Out arrived in Alice Springs for a first up win over 1000m at a 0-64 level on March 26.

In her next start on April 16 over 1200m against fillies and mares at a 0-70 level, the four-year-old ($2.70 fav with Unibet) was competitive throughout before being pipped at the post by Phil Cole’s talented five-year-old mare Mini Boom.

What makes Cut It Out a serious contender on this occasion is that she drops from 59.5kg to 56.5kg.

“She has only had the two starts for me and she won pretty convincingly over 1000m,” Savage said.

“We then stepped up to the 1200m where she just got collared in the last stride.

“Cut It Out was there for a long way.

“She’s got a fair bit of ability, there’s no doubt about that.

“She’s going alright.”

It’s a terrific Queen Of The Desert line up with a host of chances.

Mini Boom (Wayne Davis) boasts two wins and four seconds in her last six starts, and there is nothing to suggest that she won’t deliver the goods once again.

Trevor Montgomerie’s ever-consistent mare Addictions (Michael Heagney) was a last start second behind Supreme Times, a big hope in the Pioneer Sprint on Sunday, in open company over 1100m – but lumps an extra 5.5kg on this occasion.

Gary Clarke’s Thunder Peak (Jarrod Todd) arrives from Darwin after a last start second against 0-64 opposition over 1300m, with the former Michael Maroney-trained mare more than holding her own in 10 starts in Victoria.

Montgomerie’s other runner City Jet (Jessie Philpot), who has left her mark in NSW and South Australia, hasn’t done much wrong in Alice Springs and was a last start third behind Mini Boom and Cut It Out on April 16.

To throw an additional spanner in the works, Russell Bell’s Arrogant Miss (Lorelle Crow) and Barry Cooke’s Valenciano (Ianish Luximon) could spring a surprise.

Savage agreed that Cut It Out faces a stiff task.

“It’s a bit stronger than what she was up against last time,” he said.

“The 1200m is a bit of a query though.

“She hasn’t been proven over 1200m, so we’ve got that against us.

“There’s going to be a fair bit of speed on and there will be some strong runs at the end too.

“It’s a real strong race, yeah.”

Cut It Out, who jumps from barrier two in the Queen Of The Desert, was for sale before arriving in the Savage stable.

“I got her on an on-line sale and I ended up buying her through that,” Savage said.

The Alice Springs Cup Carnival reaches its climax on Sunday with the $110,000 Ladbrokes Alice Springs Cup (2000m) and $100,000 Alice Springs Toyota Pioneer Sprint (1200m).

And Savage has a starter in both races.

Masaru Warrior (Casey Hunter) has suddenly struck form and is a genuine lightweight hope at $10 in the Alice Springs Cup with Palmerbet.

Elixir (Jessie Philpot) is a $61 hope and although he rightly qualified for the race he might find his Pioneer Sprint rivals a tad too quick.

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