Waikato Stud Celebrate Million Dollar Savabeel Colt

Media Release - Monday March 7

Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick was beaming after reaching the $1 million mark for a Waikato Stud bred and consigned yearling for the second time at Karaka.

Chittick had just seen the full-brother to Group One winner Mo’unga knocked down to the $1 million bid of Kacy Fogden who came out on top of a spirited bidding duel with Te Akau principal David Ellis, for the Savabeel colt, Lot 161 from the Waikato Stud draft.

Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick embraces bloodstock manager Jaimee Gowler after the sale of lot 161 for $1 million. Photo: Trish Dunell

“That is our second $1 million sale after the Savabeel ex Make A Wish colt we sold for $1.4 million in 2019 here,” he said.

“Being by Savabeel it gives you the opportunity to sell horses in that bracket as it is a hell of a lot of money for an unproven animal at this stage of their career.

“With this horse in particular, there was spirited bidding from throughout Australasia and it settled down to two operations who are both fantastic judges of horseflesh and it looks like Kacy, who was acting for Tony Fung and Annabel Neasham, has come out on top this time.

“He will be given every opportunity and he is a lovely horse who had everything going for him.”

Chittick admitted to some anxious moments during the prolonged bidding duel for the colt.

“With a high-profile horse like this I do get a bit anxious with them,” he said.

“It’s not about how much they will make, but more about them being nicely sold as there was a lot of hype about him.

“He has been an absolute professional in both the outside and inside ring and it is nice when it all falls into place.

Advertisement

“There is a hell of a lot of time and effort that goes into all of these horses, it’s two years with a lot of hours and people involved.

“I have to take my hat off to everyone and especially my team at Waikato Stud as they put their life and soul into this and it is great that we can get a little result like this for them.

“It verifies that we are doing the job right.”

Chittick was convinced there would be fireworks in the auction ring for the colt, based on the interest he had attracted in the past week and the growth and development he had shown leading into the sale.

“He really is a quality animal with a lot of attractiveness about him and all the way through from a foal to a weanling, he stood out,” he said.

“Even when he was an early yearling and you went down the farm and saw them running in their groups, he was the one that caught the eye.

“His family goes right back to the days when we were based in the Wairarapa, 30 or 40 years ago and like a lot of our families they are turning out great results in the sales ring and the racetrack.”

Waikato Stud enjoyed a successful day throughout their Book 1 draft on the first day of selling at Karaka with 11 of 12 lots sold at an aggregate of $2.815 million. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
JRHA Foal Sale – Equinox Fever and Aussie Star Mares
The JRHA Select Sale continued on Tuesday with the prized foal session and while the sale-topper always looked an obvious one with the Equinox colt from Champion US Mare Midnight Bisou widely tipped to star, our Aussie bred mares still made their presence felt.
Wakefield Gears Up for Another Busy Season
Wakefield Stud is preparing for another busy breeding season in 2025, as the business continues its re-emergence in the industry after coming under new ownership in 2024.
G1 Placed Lavalier Tops Inglis Digital for Godolphin
The fourth most successful Inglis Digital auction in history tonight concluded with 15 lots realising $100,000 or more, leading to a gross in excess of $7m.
Exceedance 2yo Express Class Surprises On Debut
Surprisingly unwanted in the betting, having won two of his four jumpouts prior to making his debut, the Gerard Maloney trained Exceedance 2yo Express Class got the better of the race favourite to make a winning debut in the Sportsbet Race Previews Handicap (1000m) at Sandown.
Velocious sells for staggering $1.625m on Inglis Digital to Yulong
The G1-winning 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) tonight became the second most expensive filly ever sold on Inglis Digital, realising $1.625m to the bid of Yulong.
Inglis Digital Now Online - G1 Winner Velocious the Star
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) has been joined by a host of outstanding racing and breeding prospects in a tantalising Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale catalogue.
Glorious Goodwood Day 2 – Field of Gold is No Frankel
The second day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting was supposed to be the one where charismatic grey three year-old Field of Gold smashed his elders to win the Group I Sussex Stakes (1m), but that didn’t happen and instead we saw the longest priced G1 winner in British history.
Stewart honoured with Young Achiever at NZ National Breeding Awards
White Robe Lodge’s Jack Stewart was recognised with the Mary Lynne Ryan Young Achiever Award at Saturday’s National Breeding Awards in Karapiro, highlighting his growing impact on New Zealand’s breeding and racing landscape.
Promising Tagaloa Winner
Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan went to Warwick Farm on Wednesday hoping she had a horse with a bright future and now she knows she has after two year-old colt Tambeloa relished a step up in trip to break his maiden.
Mark Ford Joins Widden Victoria as Stud Manager
Widden Stud is delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Ford as Stud Manager of its Victorian farm at Riddells Creek.