Savvy Hallie was ridden with intent by Nash Rawiller early to find the lead and was never headed to win the $300,000 Sheraco Stakes (1200m).
It was Savvy Hallie’s third Group 2 win of her career with Widdup keen to finally secure that top level win with the brilliant mare.
Widdup mentioned the Group 1 $1 million Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 27 and even the Group 1 $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 17 as possible big-race targets for Savvy Hallie.
“She is definitely a Group 1 horse, we’ve got to try and win them now,” Widdup said. “She is back in form now so fingers crossed she keeps going.
“The Manikato in Melbourne is the fork in the road but that looks pretty strong now, and The Everest has been mentioned.
“I would love to run her in The Invitation, hopefully they will give us an invitation, it would be nice to stay here but we will have a look at Melbourne next.”
The speedy Savvy Hallie ($20) led throughout and held off Gangsta Granny ($6) to win by neck with Lazzura ($2.90 favourite) a half neck away third.
Savvy Hallie ran the 1200m in a fast 1m8.85s which was only 0.05s outside of the race record set by Sunshine In Paris in 2023.
She turned her form around after finishing last in the Toy Show Quality at Randwick last month although Widdup maintained there were excuses for that disappointing loss.
“Savvy Hallie has done it before,” Widdup said. “We took her to the Gold Coast and thought she would be terribly hard to beat there but she was flat. She ran fourth and wasn’t at her best.
“First-up the other day, she did get slammed out of the gates and went back to the inside which was a no-go zone.
“There were other things, apparently she was lame but she’s not lame today. There was not a thing wrong with her and she has proved that today.
“Nash was positive today and that is her at her best. He would have been positive last start if he was allowed too but it didn’t happen and that’s racing.
“She has been perfect since we got her home and it’s great to get another win.”
Rawiller said Savvy Hallie was a “different horse” at Rosehill compared to when she failed at Randwick last month.
“I didn’t put that much weight on her getting checked out of the gates the other day, but I guess when you knock four lengths off them out of the gates it makes it hard to overcome that,” Rawiller said.
“It meant a bit to me that win because I’ve had a good association with her. We were all pretty disappointed last time but kept the faith that she would bounce back, and it was great to see her come here today and do that.”
Rawiller agreed with Widdup that Savvy Hallie has Group 1-winning ability.
“I’ve seen a lot of them, there are a lot of horses that have got that potential and they’re damn hard to win, those Group 1 races,” Rawiller said.
“But this is a mare that I think can definitely measure (up) to that level going forward.
“She will be wrapped up in kid gloves now and they’ll find another one (race) for her. It was a very exciting win.
“She has got a lovely attitude and is a beautiful filly. I was lucky I probably got on her at the right time, winning the Group 2 on her at Randwick and I won’t get off her until the day she dies. I’ll stick with her.”
Widdup hinted the Manikato Stakes is likely to be Savvy Hallie’s next start – and possibly her opportunity to win at Group 1 level.
“Obviously the Manikato Stakes is there, plus there are good races here at home and we have got the Invitation and things like that,” Widdup said.
“But we will get her home, make sure she is right and go from there.”
