In-form Queen Mother Memorial Cup winner Savana Heross is set to make a bid for the Stadium Bookmakers TV Trophy at Oxford this Saturday, riding high on his recent success at Sheffield.
Trained by Diane Henry for Towcester, Oxford, and Suffolk Downs promoter Kevin Boothby, Savana Heross showcased his prowess by triumphing in a hard-fought battle with Hurry Up Jordan, clinching the £3,000-to-the-winner Category Two contest. The victory came after a tense photo-finish confirmed his narrow triumph in the 660m feature event on the card.
Breaking swiftly from the traps and seizing the lead into the first bend, Savana Heross, the 6-4 favourite and a May 2021 offspring of Droopys Sydney and Blundel Spark, dictated a formidable pace at the front of the pack. However, the persistent challenger Hurry Up Jordan, representing Perry Barr, closed the gap along the far side and mounted a challenge for the lead.
As they rounded the final turns, Hurry Up Jordan briefly edged ahead in the six-bend contest, but Savana Heross displayed remarkable stamina, rallying back to claim victory by a neck in 39.21 seconds (normal). Dubai Kid, trained by Craig Marston, secured third place.
Sheffield’s director of racing, Andrew Mascarenhas, extended his congratulations to the winning connections and expressed his delight at the strong turnout for the traditional Mother’s Day feature event.
Mascarenhas praised Savana Heross for his impressive performance, emphasizing his affinity for the Sheffield circuit and his promising form heading into the TV Trophy.
He also highlighted the sizable crowd of around 700 racegoers who attended the event, filling the restaurant, VIP boxes, and Rivilen Suite, making it a memorable Mother’s Day celebration.
Looking ahead, Mascarenhas announced Sheffield's forthcoming major competition, the Bresbet Gymcrack, a prestigious event for puppies offering a first prize of £17,500. Entries for the Gymcrack close at noon on April 3, with the heats scheduled for Sunday, April 7, followed by the semi-finals on April 14 and the final on April 21.