Stakes success for Savatiano and La Tene, Hanseatic second in G1 Blue Diamond

The class and durability of the fillies Savatiano and La Tene have given Godolphin Stakes victories in Sydney and Melbourne on a day when a G1 Blue Diamond Stakes bid was narrowly beaten.

Savatiano, one of the team’s most reliable and talented members, confirmed that she possessed G1 potential with a victory in Saturday’s G2 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill that ranks among the best of the nine she has so far put together.

The highest praise for Savatiano came from jockey James McDonald who admitted to doubts before the race and to a minor tactical error during it.

"I thought she'd blow out after looking at her parade. I thought she'd need the run, but she didn’t,” McDonald said.

"I gave her a click at about the 500 metres and it was the wrong thing to do because she just towed me up behind them. But she’s come back in tremendous order and was far too good."

"She is a genuine Group One horse for sure."

The Millie Fox was the second G2 for the daughter of Street Cry who also won the valuable The Hunter at Newcastle last time in work.

Savatiano came off the back of the runner-up White Moss at the 300m, quickly gained the upper hand and raced clear to score by 2-3/4 lengths.

Trainer James Cummings is now considering a start in the G1 Canterbury Stakes for Savatiano.

In Melbourne, La Tene, who like her stablemate was having the first run of her latest campaign, produced a courageous effort to prevail in a tight finish to the G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield.

La Tene had to fight harder for her half-head victory over Lady Lupino, but it was equally well-deserved.

"She didn't quite come up last preparation, so we did the right thing and put her away and that patience has been rewarded," Cummings said.

Various options are available for La Tene with Cummings suggesting a return to Flemington next month for the Group Two Kewney Stakes was a possibility.

He will then consider sending the filly to Adelaide for the Group One Australasian Oaks over 2,000M at Morphettville in May.

"She's a three-year-old filly that could be well suited to Adelaide if I can prolong her preparation, and at this stage she is showing she’s enjoying it," Cummings said.

"Although she's versatile, she might not get the distance, but one thing she has on her side is toughness."

Equally impressive, although minus the glory, was Hanseatic who was beaten a short head by Tagaloa in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, while Microphone finished third in the G2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill.