In a year where the resilience of breeders is likely to be tested in New Zealand, Westbury Stud have taken a positive approach to the troubled times when announcing their roster and fee structure for the upcoming season.
General Manager Russell Warwick stated “It is imperative for breeders to mate their mares this year, as the long term future of the New Zealand Industry is dependent on mares being bred and as many foals as possible being born in 2021. Under the difficulties breeders are faced with, we have taken a proactive approach this year to ensure that the service fees of our stallions provide our clients with value and the ability to breed a good horse at a realistic cost, while they must have an opportunity to make a profit should they choose to sell.
“In respect of the horse numbers (the foals born or about to be born) the pathway for the next two racing seasons is set to a degree, but the future foal crops which will affect yearling sales and the number of horses which will be available to race from the 2023-24 season and beyond, will fall upon the decisions made by breeders mating their mares in 2020.”
Dalakhani’s son Reliable Man will head a list of six stallions to stand at Gerry Harvey’s Westbury Stud in 2020, remaining at his 2020 fee of $15,000 +GST.
Reliable Man has had an excellent season headed by his daughter Miami Bound winning both the VRC Kennedy Oaks Gr.1 & Wakeful Stakes Gr.2 in the spring, his impressive son Kinane winning the Frank Packer Plate Gr.3 at Randwick (and one of the favourites for the upcoming South Australian Derby Gr.1) with a reported offer of A$2.8 million declined for the three-year-old in the past week. Last year’s NZ Oaks Gr.1 winner Sentimental Miss was another stakes winner for Reliable Man during the current season, winning the Listed Wanganui Cup in December, while three-year-old Battenburg produced an outstanding performance at just start number four when finishing third in the Spring Champion Stakes Gr.1 behind top three-year-olds Shadow Hero and Castelvecchio.
In the northern hemisphere Reliable Man’s three-year-old daughter Quiet Times was a stakes winner over 1300m at Chantilly recently while Viva Gloria, Naida, and Ernesto are all black type performers in the northern hemisphere in the current season.
The top price paid for a Reliable Man yearling at Karaka was $330,000 for the colt from Oh So Royal – purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club – while John O’Shea secured the colt from Baggy Green for $280,000, Japan’s Big Red Farm paying $260,000 for the colt from Way to Win and David Van Dyke also bidding to $260,000 to secure the colt from Avisto; of the eleven yearlings sold in Book 1 at Karaka, six made $200,000 or more.
The first crop of Rosehill Guineas and VRC Derby winner Tarzino were warmly received in the market place in January with his colt from Eau de Parfum sold for A$230,000, a filly from Wednesday Rocks making A$160,000 (both at Magic Millions Sale), while at Karaka the daughter of Striving was purchased by Rogerson Bloodstock for $170,000, the filly from La Roseraie by Henry Dwyer for $130,000, while Joe Pride, Shaune Ritchie, Ellerton Zahra, Mick Price, Troy Corstens, Mitchell Freedman, Steve Richards, Go Racing, Import Racing and GPI Racing all secured yearlings by the dual Group 1 winning son of Tavistock. Tarzino will stand for a fee of $12,000 +GST in 2020.
El Roca, Redwood, and Swiss Ace will all stand for a fee of $8,000 + GST allowing breeders the opportunity to use proven stallions in the market place at very affordable fees.
El Roca’s eldest crop are currently three-year-olds and led by the outstanding filly Travelling Light, winner of the Group 1 Levin Classic against the colts and the winner of five of her seven starts, Group placed in her remaining two starts. Travelling Light was among the very best fillies of her generation and is being aimed at an Australian campaign in the spring, while Bella Mente was Group 2 placed during the current season and the talented Moeraki was Group placed at two before being sold to Hong Kong.
Redwood has enjoyed another good season on the racetrack with Night’s Watch winning the Neville Sellwood Stakes Gr.3 at Rosehill, Platinum Invador successful in the City of Auckland Cup Gr.3 and placed in both the Auckland Cup Gr.1 and the Avondale Cup Gr.2, 3YO filly Communique was an impressive winner of the Sunline Vase Gr.3 at Ellerslie, Chief Sequoyah won the Listed Spring Classic, and Listed winner Rock on Wood was desperately unlucky in both the Thorndon Mile Gr.1 and the Herbie Dyke Stakes Gr.1, while Romancer, Tamarack, Livin’ On a Prayer, and Black Thorn were all black type performers in the current season.
During the past twelve months Redwood’s Group 2 placed son Sword in Stone was sold to Hong Kong for a reported seven figure sum, and is now racing in the colony as Columbus County for Casper Fownes, recording three seconds and a fourth from his five starts.
In the sale ring the progeny of Redwood sold up to $130,000 at Karaka with his colt from Trista Rossa purchased by Hong Kong buyer Simple Bloodstock, and the sister to Romancer purchased by Go Racing Syndications for $105,000. The Group 1 winning son of High Chaparral will stand for $8,000 +GST.
Swiss Ace posted his first Group 1 winner this season when his talented son Julius took out the Railway Stakes at Ellerslie as well as adding the J Swap Contractors Sprint Gr.3 to his impressive tally. Three-year-old filly Miss Federer returned to the track this season winning the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes and Canterbury Belle Stakes after being a Group 3 winner at two last season. Miss Federer was awarded the NZB Southern Filly of the Year title for 2019-20.
A Group 1 winner of the Oakleigh Plate when racing, Swiss Ace has established a very impressive record at stud with 221 winners of more than A$17,000,000 in stakes and has established a very strong following in the Asian markets of Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia with the likes of Little Giant, Huka Eagle, Ugly Warrior, Hotshots Slam, Lincoln Road, Nova Swiss, Ace’s Wild, and Oscar Eclipse. Swiss Ace offers exceptional value at just $8,000 +GST for a successful proven sire.
Kementari’s half-brother Telperion rounds up the 2020 roster for the farm, and like Tarzino he will have his first two-year-olds racing next season. By Street Cry, Telperion was a high class juvenile for Godolphin who never got the opportunity to fulfil his promise as an older horse. Out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Yavanna, Telperion won the Listed Lonhro Plate over 1100m at two beating subsequent Group 1 winners Prized Icon & Spright, and finished a fast-finishing fourth to Capitalist, Yankee Rose, & Flying Artie in the Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1 and second to Yankee Rose in the ATC Sire’s Produce Stakes.
The first crop of Telperion sold up to $80,000 at Karaka in January with the colt from China Choice purchased by astute bloodstock agent John Foote, while a number of good judges secured yearlings by the son of Street Cry, namely Phill Cataldo, Paul Moroney, Stephen McKee, Allan Sharrock, Andrew Campbell, Danny Walker, and Kelvin Tyler. Telperion represents great value at just $5,000 +GST.
Reliable Man $15,000 + GST
Tarzino $12,000 + GST
El Roca $8,000 + GST
Redwood $8,000 + GST
Swiss Ace $8,000 + GST
Telperion $5,000 + GST
