A SAVVY DUAL FINALIST IN TWO CATEGORIES

MONDAY: August 17, 2026: SAVVY Hallie has been named as a finalist in two categories for Racing’s Night of Champions ahead of her return at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The classy Hawkesbury mare is the sole provincial finalist amongst five vying for the title of NSW Queen of the Autumn, and one of three finalists for NSW Provincial Champion Horse Of The Year.

She joins Newcastle pair, Kris Lees’ Group 1 Sydney Cup winner Changingoftheguard and Nathan Doyle’s Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner Churchill’s Choice in the latter category.

Presented by the NSW Racehorse Owners Association, the award winners will be announced and presentations made at a gala black tie dinner in the Winx Stand at Randwick on Thursday week.

Savvy Hallie was in brilliant form last season, winning three races including both the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last August and Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) again there in February before being narrowly beaten by Tempted in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) at the same track a fortnight later.

Hawkesbury’s premier trainer Brad Widdup is happy with the mare’s progress, and says she is ready to go back to the races after two recent lead-up trials, winning the latest over 900m at Rosehill Gardens on August 7.

“I did consider also nominating Savvy Hallie for the Group 3 Show County (1200m) on Saturday, but decided to focus on the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) against her own sex,” he said this evening.

“Nash Rawiller rode her in all three starts in autumn and also in her two recent trials, and will continue a successful association with her on Saturday.”

Entries for the Toy Show were extended until 11am tomorrow after 12 nominations were received today.

. The wait was worthwhile for fellow Hawkesbury trainer Ed Cummings at Bathurst today.

Cummings won the Alan Barton Memorial Class 1 Handicap (1200m) with Demmo Dermy ($5), ridden by Pierre Boudvillain.

Posting his second success at his seventh start, the five-year-old Yes Yes Yes gelding rolled $3.20 favorite Nafanua in a tight finish.

Cummings had planned to take Demmo Dermy to Wagga on August 9 but the meeting was washed out and rescheduled for three days later, but didn’t proceed either.

Cummings’ Bathurst win with Demmo Dermy was his first in the new season, and the ninth for the Hawkesbury training base.