Talented three-year-old Ammirati (NZ) (Savabeel) was a notable absentee from Saturday’s Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) acceptances, with trainer Stephen Marsh confirming the sale of the gelding to Hong Kong.
A three-time winner from eight starts, the son of Savabeel had been an impressive last-start winner of the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie and a $10 chance for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at the same venue in just over a fortnight.
The gelding also boasts a dramatic victory in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki in late November and an eye-catching fifth placing in the Gr. 2 Levin Classic (1400m) at Trentham for owners Hawridge Developments Ltd, Jamieson Park Ltd and Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock Ltd.
A $450,000 yearling purchase by Bruce Perry Bloodstock from Waikato Stud’s 2023 Karaka draft, Ammirati is out of the winning Pins mare Happily.
The versatile galloper is likely to join the stable of David Eustace in Hong Kong.