Saanvi Stuns In Golden Chase Auction Romp

WHEN Saanvi raced to the front down the back and then went on to win the Group 3 Golden Chase Auction final (520m) at Ipswich on Saturday night, Tom Tzouvelis shook his head on what might have been.

The Peter and Sonia Davis bred and owned Saanvi (Superior Panama-Sherbini) gave Tzouvelis his third success in the Auction following on from Pacific Flash and Pedro's Thunder.

She had to run 30.00 to land the $100,000 first prize, the equal third fastest time ever at Ipswich to beat “kennelmate” Duffman by three and a quarter lengths, with Bootin' Boodie in third.

But Tzouvelis remembered back to the middle of 2023 when the Superior Panama-Sherbini litter first arrived at his Park Ridge kennels.

“We had a dog named Last Chance from the litter for the Six Mates Syndicate,” said Tom.

“It was a very even litter, but Last Chance was exceptional, at least six lengths better than any of the bitches and that includes Saanvi, Scarlatti, Pursuer.

“At his first 431 metre trial at Ipswich he went 24.79 at 18 months of age. I realised he was finally my ‘big dog', the dog I would be able to take to Group 1 races and not be frightened of anything.

“He is the fastest dog I have ever put a lead on.”

But, tragedy struck Last Chance which broke his leg at his very first race start in a maiden at Albion Park on September 27 last year. He lives out his days after being adopted out.

The Six Mates Syndicate race Pursuer which has won eight races and $63,000.

Saanvi, with her 30.00 Auction win, has proved what a tragedy Last Chance's loss has become.

The classy bitch, already a G1 Gold Bullion and G1 Ipswich Gold Cup finalist, will not rest on her laurels.

“We will toss in a nomination for the Rocky Cup heats next week and depending on how she recovers from the Ipswich win, she will head up there,” said Tom.

Tzouvelis, who lost his dad Nick only a few months ago, took a moment to savour the victory in a quiet moment to himself.

“Nick loved Ipswich and he and Keith Sternberg were great mates,” said Tom. “He would have loved the fact we also won the Keith Sternberg Memorial on Saturday night.”

Tom felt for Jedda Cutlack and her syndicate partners when Duffman finished second.

“Duffman has run his best first section, his best second section and best overall time (30.22) but still was beaten,” said Tom.

The Tzouvelis/Davis combination has been dominant for the past couple of years.

“We used to stay with Peter and Sonia every time we went to Sydney to race and Pete promised to send us dogs in the future,” said Tom.

“The first few were moderate, but then we got dogs like Sunburst and did really well with them.

“Now Peter and Sonia send us all their dogs and we have 16 for them in training.

“They breed, rear and pre-train the pups and send to us ready to get ready to race.

“The great prizemoney in Queensland has been the lure.”

Sherbini has a litter by Koblenz at education.

Saanvi's 30.00 (shared with G1 winner Oh Mickey) is third fastest at Ipswich behind the 29.83 track record held by Blue Hornet and the 29.97 shared by Champagne Sally and Fernando Blaster.

The time did not surprise Tzouvelis.

“She went into the heats underdone, improved for the semi and again for the final,” he said.

“She had gone 30.17 as a pup during the Ipswich Cup series late last year so we thought she could improve with age.”

The Auction win took Saanvi's career to 36 starts for 14 wins and 13 placings for stakes of $187,000.