A rising star emerged through the 3yo ranks in NZ 2023 and she is an exceptionally talented filly

A filly winning the $1m Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) is rare enough, but Orchestral (Savabeel) earned herself an even more special place in the history of the race with a breathtakingly dominant performance at Ellerslie in March 2023. The freakish filly was bought by trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood for $625,000 from Haunui Farm’s Book 1 draft at Karaka in January, 2022. Her eight starts have produced five wins, two placings and $1.57m for owners Colin and Helen Litt. She has won major races in all of her three starts, racking up a combined winning margin of 11 and a quarter lengths. Orchestral has always been regarded as something special by James and Wellwood, and her runaway wins in the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the Group Two Avondale Guineas (2100m) in her previous two starts made it easy to see why.

Orchestral impressed on debut at Pukekohe as a 2yo in May 2023 where she charged home to finish a close second behind the highly regarded Just A Floozie, after being slow to muster. The filly then ran out a dominant winner of the Agritrade Valagro 2YO Maiden (1200m) at Hawke’s Bay. Returning in the Spring, Orchestral took on the Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings, won by Quintessa showcasing her exceptional talent for Te Akau Racing. The distance was too short for the James Wellwood horse as they knew she needed more ground. The exciting filly was on song at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day when downing a quality line-up in the Barfoot & Thompson 1600, including last start vanquisher Lupo Solitario. The Satono Aladdin gelding beat Orchestral by just a nose in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) last month, but she was able to reverse that result courtesy of a quality ride from Craig Grylls.

Orchestral then took on her biggest challenge to date in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) feature at Ellerslie and dealt to a high class field by three and a half lengths, aided by a superb ride from James McDonald who had flown over just to steer the filly. Three weeks after announcing her arrival among the season’s elite three-year-olds in breathtaking style on Karaka Millions night, Orchestral treated Ellerslie to an encore in Saturday’s Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m).

She was among the hottest Derby favourites in recent memory at odds of $1.30, bidding to become only the fifth filly to win the race in the last 40 years, joining Tidal Light (Diagramatic) in 1986, Popsy (Sir Tristram) in 1993, Silent Achiever (O’Reilly) in 2012 and Habibi (Ekraar) in 2013. Notably, James already counted both Tidal Light and Silent Achiever among his five previous Derby victories. But while Orchestral was widely expected to join that select group, the dominance of her performance came as a surprise even to her connections. James was awestruck by the abundance of her ability. Orchestral was slow to leave the starting gates and then hampered soon afterwards, and she found herself out near the back of a field that became widely strung out behind a strong pace. But rider Craig Grylls gradually began to improve his position coming down the side of the track, and by the halfway point in the home straight, the race was all over. Orchestral swept to the lead down the outside of the track and bounded clear, opening up a winning margin of three and three-quarter lengths – the largest in the New Zealand Derby since 2008.

In March the Aussies were warned Orchestral was on the way and she duly delivered in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) with Jmac aboard. On straightening she was 4.6L off Tutta La Vitta who had broken away with a strong burst, however the smart filly upped her tempo to prevail in the final stages. McDonald gave a cheeky, 'razz' to Nash Rawiller as they crossed the line. In the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick two weeks later, Orchestral could only manage 3rd to Autumn Angel and Zardozi, with the team returning the filly home for an extended rest. It will be interesting to see what she delivers as a stronger 4yo in the Spring.

Orchestral became the 33rd individual Group One winner for champion Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel, and his first New Zealand Derby winner. The exceptional filly comes from a very current family – her dam is the stakes-placed Symphonic (NZ) (O’Reilly), whose full-sister Glee (NZ) (O’Reilly) who won the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) winner Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel). A full-brother to Orchestral was offered by Haunui Farm during Book 1 of Karaka 2024, where he was bought for $310,000 by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

RACE RECORD - 10: 6-2-1

EARNINGS - $1,999,139

Group 1 NZ Derby

Group 1 Rosehill Guineas

Group 2 Avondale Guineas

Listed 3YO Karaka Millions