Hallie too Savvy for her Silver Shadow Stakes 2025 rivals

Savvy Hallie announced herself as a spring player with a stylish Group 2 triumph in the Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick, just two weeks after breaking her maiden at Newcastle.

The Brad Widdup-trained filly had shown her quality last season without breaking through, finishing second in the Baillieu and Percy Sykes Stakes, as well as chasing home King Of Pop in her debut behind the eventual Black Opal Stakes winner.

Widdup admitted he was cautious about running her again so soon but praised her toughness. “We were meant to race at Kembla and we got the heavy 10. We didn’t go and the track looked alright,” he said. “We waited until last week and ran her and then we had to back her up here, so big call. She was just brilliant. It’s great when they handle a track like this. Great call to run today so I will give them (her owners) a bit of credit there for once.”

The next target will be the Furious Stakes, though Widdup said she may not be asked to stretch further in distance. “I think she is too brilliant to keep pushing out further. She did a good jump, 900 to 1200 today. We will probably aim up in a fortnight and then see how we go.”

Jay Ford, who partnered her to victory, said her professionalism set her apart. “She is a genuine Group horse every day of the week,” Ford said. “Hopefully as she furnishes and gets older she might take that next step again, but her tenacity and will to win, and just how genuine she is – she flies the machines, puts herself in a spot – so she gives herself every chance of success.”

Sent out a $3.50 chance, Savvy Hallie had three-quarters of a length to spare on Within The Law ($3.50), with Queen Of Clubs ($10) finishing third nearly three lengths away. Portelli was pleased with the latter’s effort and said she would likely head straight to 1400m in either the Tea Rose or Ming Dynasty rather than contest the Furious Stakes.