Yarraman Park’s Hellbent will be represented in the world’s richest race on turf after his star daughter Savvy Hallie was selected for The Everest. Mulberry Racing has chosen the Brad Widdup-trained mare as its runner in the $20 million feature at Randwick on October 17, making her the sixth confirmed starter.
Widdup confirmed that Mulberry and Savvy Hallie’s owners, BK Racing & Breeding and Ben Vassallo, have reached an agreement for her to take the slot. Her second to Tempted in Saturday’s G2 Premiere Stakes sealed her place, a month after a fast-time win in the G2 Sheraco Stakes. Widdup noted she carried 3kg more than in her Sheraco win after a minor setback, and he expects her to improve again.
The four-year-old has proven herself a tough and talented mare. She is a three-time G2 winner and a G1 runner-up. Her G2 victories include the Silver Shadow Stakes and the Light Fingers Stakes, which she won from start to finish. She also pushed Tempted to a nose in the Group 1 Surround Stakes in March 2026. On October 17 she will attempt to become only the second mare to win the 1200m feature, following Bella Nipotina, who won in 2024 as a seven-year-old.
Savvy Hallie has been a wonderful advertisement for Hellbent. She was bred by Gerry Harvey and was the most expensive Hellbent yearling sold in 2024. She first sold as a weanling for $150,000 to Belmont Bloodstock from Baramul Stud. She was then offered at the Inglis Classic by Riverstone Lodge, where BK Racing bought her for $320,000. Her dam, Rose of Savannah, is a winning Fastnet Rock mare and was covered by I Am Invincible, Hellbent’s sire, last season.
Yarraman Park wishes Brad Widdup, Mulberry Racing, BK Racing & Breeding, Ben Vassallo and all of Savvy Hallie’s connections the very best of luck on Everest day.
