Savvy Hallie wins her second Gr. 2 race at Royal Randwick - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

It’s unlikely there was anyone more excited after Saturday’s Light Fingers Stakes than Ben Vassallo. As Racing Manager for BK Racing and a part owner of Savvy Hallie himself, Ben has been across every step taken by this filly since he identified her at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Her purchase price of $320,000 has been far outstripped by her prize money tally of $844,700 derived from three wins and four placings from just nine starts. The fact that two of these wins were in Gr 2’s has already greatly enhanced her value as a future breeding prospect. A Gr 1 win is looking more likely by the day.

Anyone within hugging distance of Ben on Saturday was subjected to his unbridled elation. Equally excited but not quite so animated was Savvy Hallie’s trainer Brad Widdup, who recognised her talents early on and has handled her with kid gloves ever since. Firmly entrenched among the state’s most astute trainers, Brad has 32 NSW wins on the board so far this season following on from 60 successes in the previous one.

Brad, Ben and an army of supporters couldn’t believe their eyes on Saturday when Savvy Hallie flew the gates and bounded straight onto the bridle for Nash Rawiller who was having his first ride on the daughter of Hellbent. So easy did the filly travel in the middle stages that Nash had no hesitation in “ramping it up” from the 500m. She had them scrambling up the rise and looked the winner at the 200m. Perhaps still a touch on the soft side, Savvy Hallie conceded a little bit of ground to Gr 1 winning filly Apocalyptic in the closing stages but was always going to win. Nepo Baby was a very meritorious third. Savvy Hallie ran right up to her cracking fourth in the $3 million Sunlight on the Gold Coast a full five weeks earlier. Brad Widdup opted not to trial her before the Light Fingers, but to keep her ticking over at home. His skills have never been better showcased.

The recognisable style of Nash Rawiller was on display as he got Savvy Hallie home in the Light Fingers - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

The trainer couldn’t have been more delighted to win another Gr 2 race for long time clients Brad and Kylie Hunt, founders and operators of BK Racing And Breeding. Brad Hunt isn’t always in attendance when BK horses compete, but chose to be at Randwick on Saturday to watch his promising three year old filly take another important stepping stone. It wasn’t lost on family and friends that Savvy Hallie had given Brad the best birthday present any racing man could hope for.

A happy trio after the Light Fingers Stakes - Ben Vassallo (L), Brad Widdup and "the birthday boy" Brad Hunt - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

It wasn’t Ben Vassallo’s birthday, but he was in party mood nevertheless from the moment the talented filly returned to the winner’s circle in the increasingly well known BK colours - pale green and silver hoops with a matching cap. In moments like these Ben’s mind sometimes goes drifting back to the days when he spent more time at Malcolm Johnston’s Hawkesbury stables than he did at home. He knew nothing about horses, and by his own admission took a month to work out how to fit a head collar. Riding aspirations were non-existent at the time but he enjoyed every moment spent with the former champion jockey. To this day he credits “Miracle Mal” with having taught him how to use the swear words most commonly used in racing stables.

Ben was a seasoned jockey by the time this one was taken in 2012 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Next stop for young Benny was the bustling training centre at Rosehill and an opportunity to work as a stablehand for Tony Karakatstanis whose son Con was enjoying notable success as an apprentice jockey at the time. “Tony wasn’t in a position to apprentice me but taught me many of the fundamentals of horse management,” said Ben. “Con helped me a lot and was instrumental in getting me on a pony in the Rosehill St. Leger car park for basic practice on occasions. I had many observers as I bounced around on that poor little pony. One of them was Bernadette Cooper who was riding for the Paul Sutherland stable at the time. I was never short of advice. I later rode a little bit of work for Chris Waller who had only eighteen horses in work at the time, but I barely knew what I was doing.”

Ben couldn’t believe his luck when an opportunity came up with Noel Mayfield-Smith who’d moved from Newcastle to Hawkesbury with a couple of Gr wins already under his belt. Ben hasn’t forgotten the support afforded him by Noel and Emma Mayfield-Smith. Not only did they apprentice the youngster but ensured that he was given every opportunity to develop. “They had a pretty big team at the time and I got to ride a huge amount of trackwork,” he said. “As I improved Noel let me ride in a few barrier trials and not long afterwards I had all of their trial rides. Unfortunately, I forgot all I’d learned when my first race ride came along. It was in a Cl 1 at Bathurst in September 2006 on a filly called Somethingbeautiful. I ran second but she should have won by a minute. I got absolutely lost on her. There wasn’t much conversation in the car on the way home.”

It was Goulburn trainer the late Graeme Spackman who provided Ben Vassallo’s first winning ride in January of 2007. “Graeme was one of several trainers I’d been pestering for rides on the phone and he finally relented,” recalled Ben. “He put me on a horse called Under The Dip at Kembla one day and although I was unplaced he was happy enough with the ride. He gave me another chance at Queanbeyan three weeks later, and up I bobbed. It was a hell of a thrill and I’ll never forget Graeme Spackman’s kindness. He was a wonderful man who died much too soon.”

After a win on Millenium Ruler at a Warwick Farm mid week meeting in 2012 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Ben had a good number of winners under his belt by the time he returned to Rosehill where he had a fruitful six month association with Lee Curtis. “Lee had already won six stakes races with Mistegic including the Gr 1 Galaxy and was well on his way in the training ranks,” Ben recalled. “I rode a lot of work for the stable and he rewarded me with regular opportunities. I remember winning races at Goulburn and Scone on Voltabolta, a very handy horse he had at the time. Good memories of my time with the Curtis stable.”

Then came the experience Ben describes as his career highlight. He offered his services to the late Guy Walter, already established as one of Australia’s most gifted horse trainers. “To any young jockey the benefits of an association with Guy were priceless,” said Ben. “The “house-full” sign was up at the Walter stable when I started and there were several star performers among them. I worked my tail off and the rides were forthcoming. Guy had become legendary for the way he supported those who supported him. As busy as he was, he always found time for people. His passing was a major blow to all those close to him.”

“He’s the man who gave me my only Saturday metropolitan win. I’d won a few midweek races but to win at a Saturday meeting at Warwick Farm was something else again. The horse was an Elvstroem gelding called Hardbreak Hotel and we drew the outside in a field of 14 over 1100m. No wonder he was a $25.00 chance in the betting. I let him drift back from the gate, saved him up for one dash and what a thrill it was to swamp the leaders late to just scramble in. I was proud to wear the colours of Jamie Walters’ Proven Thoroughbreds. I’ll be forever grateful to Jamie who was happy to give me a chance. My clearest recollection of the day was the booming voice of my dad Vic as I came back to scale. He was my greatest supporter and proudly advised anyone who’d listen that my ride won the race for Hardbreak Hotel.”

A milestone win for Ben Vassallo - His first Saturday metro success on Hardbreak Hotel for Guy Walter at Warwick Farm 11/08/2012.

Ben also has happy memories of a two year stint with Kerry Parker at Kembla Grange. “Kerry’s another bloke who offers great support to those who put in the hard yards,” he said. “He gave me a lot of rides and thankfully I was able to return the favour by getting a few home for him. He’s a very good horseman and it was no surprise to see what he could do with a good horse when he took Think It Over to great heights a few seasons back. Gai Waterhouse put me on a few provincial winners as did Peter Snowden and Gerald Ryan. That kind of support meant so much to me.”

Not one to keep records Ben has no idea of his winner tally but says it was well over one hundred. He remembers those days on the pony in the Rosehill car park and the long process involved in learning to understand the racehorse. “I was so focused on becoming a capable jockey my first hundred rides are little more than a blur,” he said. “I finally got the hang of it and really enjoyed the rest of my short career. I never got to compete in stakes races but I’m still very chuffed about my Nowra Cup win on Panderelle for Luke Pepper in 2010, and a Snake Gully Cup win on Via Facile for Graeme Spackman in 2013. To me they were like black type wins.”

Ben was getting towards the end of his career when he met Brad and Kylie Hunt who were developing their BK racing operation at the time. He’d worn their aforementioned lime green and silver colours several times on a Tale Of The Cat gelding called Maddhal for wins at Gosford and Kembla and several placings. That Kembla success on May 10th, 2014, would turn out to be his final winning ride. Ben was in for a massive surprise not long after when the Hunts invited him to consider the role of Racing Manager for their fledgling enterprise.

Ben's second last winning ride on Maddhal at Gosford for BK Racing 14/11/2013 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

The last decade has flashed by for the 42 year old former jockey. Ben has enjoyed every minute of every day managing the racing interests of two very special people in his life. He’s enjoyed a million thrills with good performers like Sandbar, Fire Lane, Vulpine, Black on Gold and currently the exciting Savvy Hallie. It’s interesting to note that nine time winner Black On Gold is a member of the small herd of horses he keeps on his five acre holding at Arcadia north west of Sydney. The former talented racehorse gets to stretch his legs on the rare occasions when Ben’s wife Bethany finds herself with some spare time.

Bethany’s talents are obvious the moment she canters off on Black On Gold. The same lady enjoyed a brief but successful stint as a jockey under the name of Bethany Honeysett. She was apprenticed to the late Gwenda Markwell at Kembla at precisely the time Ben arrived to take up his role with the Kerry Parker stable. “Beth was a terrific rider and had the support of Gwenda and several other local trainers,” said Ben. “I’d say she rode around sixty winners. She would have continued but marriage and a family put an end to that. We’ve been together for twenty years and we’re the proud parents of two beautiful girls, Rubi who’s 13 and Charlotte who’s 10. Both girls have smart ponies and are natural riders but have other interests as well. I’m a pretty contented bloke at the moment. The only thing that might improve the situation is a Gr 1 win with Savvy Hallie.”

BEN VASSALLO LEADS THE CHEER SQUAD AS SAVVY HALLIE BAGS ANOTHER GR 2

“YORKY” - By Shane Arden and Brian York.