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Sava Jet R1-14648

Aussie “Wonder Horse” Sava Jet R1-14648 blitzed both the Australian and American Sprint Racing scenes and holds the Australian Jockey Club record of 22 wins straight, a record later equalled by Thoroughbred Miss Petty.

Born on 31st October 1980, Sava Jet was sired by The Ambassador Q-1838 (Savannah Jet - AJC registration) and out of racing Thoroughbred La Modelle by Better Portion. Sava Jet was bred by Ken Fogarty who was a stalwart of Sprint Racing and also owned the Palms Resort in the Gold Coast hinterland. Ken Fogarty had 15.1 hands high Sava Jet for his first four wins from four starts before selling him to Gordon Bartlett from Atherton in North Queensland. Gordon Bartlett had been warned by many trainers who knew the horse that he was a “bleeder”, but Gordon had driven thousands of kilometres and decided to take a “punt” on him.

Sava Jet’s first race start with Gordon Bartlett was on his new home track at Atherton – he broke the track record that day. But disaster immediately struck with Sava Jet bleeding after the race. He was banned for a compulsory three months with Gordon Bartlett immediately taking him off grain and only feeding him a cup of molasses to maintain his salts and minerals along with Lucerne. Gordon Bartlett would only race him every 21 days and turn him out into a grassy paddock for 2 to 3 days after a run. Gordon Bartlett notably commented that if Sava Jet came to the gate “carry on” you’d know that he wanted to go back into the stable. Sava Jet was raced over distances of 320m, 400m, 600m races and one 1200m.

At three years of age Sava Jet had five starts for five wins. At four years old he had six starts for six wins and as a five year old he had nine starts for nine wins.

Around November 1985, after Sava Jet had won his 20th start, a match race was offered by his new owners Mary and Bob Howie along with Janet Forster, a Queensland bookmaker. The deal was - winner takes all $100,000. The only condition attached to the challenge was that the race had to be a distance between 300 and 500 metres. There were no takers.

Sava Jet started his career carrying 54kg in race one and ended his Australian career carrying 75kg in race 22. He set track records at Toowoomba, Mareeba, Mt Garnett, Atherton, Cairns and Townsville.

On December 7th, 1985 Sava Jet equalled Picnic In The Park's racing record of 21 consecutive wins. When going for the out right record of 22 consecutive wins, the trainer/owners wanted to make him fly so they fed him grain for a week. Fly he did! On the 14th December 1985, in Cairns, over 400m, Sava Jet broke the track record in 22.71 seconds carrying 75kg on his back. Unfortunately after this race, Sava Jet bled again and was banned from racing for life from the Australian Jockey Club. His Australian racing record is 22 wins from 22 starts and his Australian Life Time Earnings are $48,405.00.

In total Sava Jet raced 22 starts for 22 wins in Australia - an AJC record that he held since 14th December 1985 which has since been equalled by Thoroughbred Miss Petty.

Sava Jet’s owners and connections may have been down but they were certainly not out. Bob Howie contacted The American Quarter Horse Association and was forwarded to Dick Fick, the Association’s Assistant Director of Racing who in turn recommended the legendary and recent Lone Star Park Hall of Fame inductee Californian trainer Bob Baffert. The wheels were set in motion to export Sava Jet to America in January 1986. In America horses could be treated with an anti-bleeding drug, Lasix.

Sava Jet’s 22 victories in Australia were not officially recognized by the American Quarter Horse Association so he was considered a maiden when he reached American shores. Baffert could not believe how skinny, weak and undernourished the horse was. ‘He must be a Wonder Horse to have done what he has done and look like a skinny jack rabbit’, he said.

Baffert’s first problem (after putting him on a better diet) was locating a US track to run a 6 year old on for his Maiden. Sava Jet was sent to run at Manor Downs, near Austin, Texas to run his maiden on March 29th, 1986. He easily accomplished his mission by winning a 350 yard event by 3 ¼ lengths (S.I. 86).

With his Maiden out of the way, it was time for some serious schooling as his next race was at night and under lights. In his entire career he had never been run at night. Sava Jet made his night time debut at Los Alamitos Los Angeles, California on the 6th May 1986. In a field of seven, in the main event of 350 yards, he missed the start leaving the gates last but won by a head for victory in 17.85 seconds (S.I. 90). The Americans called him the “Aussie Wonder Horse”.

His winning streak now out to 24 in concession Sava Jet had never been beaten. He was set to race again in Los Alamitos in June 1986, unfortunately he suffered an injury after being shod. His attempt at race 25 in concession took place on the 10th August 1986, in a field of 9 starters he ran 4th, speed indexed at 93. After this race Sava Jet was sold with Mary and Bob Howie and Janet Forster losing contact with him after that.

The American Quarter Horse records show he raced 30 starts in America for 7 firsts, 6 seconds and 4 thirds, a ROM in Racing with 126 points and earnings of $24,262.00. His best speed index was 99.

Sava Jet is reported to have died in June of 1989.

In summary, Sava Jet could be considered Australia’s best Sprint Horse with all Australian races conducted on AJC registered tracks and carrying crushing weights in his later career. As a 6 year old he was exported to America and started his racing career there from scratch. Hailed by the Americans as “the Wonder Horse from Australia” he was compared to the other Australian icon that went to America - Phar Lap. In his entire career from 52 starts Sava Jet has 29 wins, 6 seconds, 4 thirds and total life time earnings of $72,667.00.

The Australian Quarter Horse Association takes great pleasure in honouring Sava Jet R1-14648 by welcoming him as a Hall of Fame Inductee for 2007.