$625,000 Savabeel Colt Stars - Rain fails to dampen spirits

Media Release - Sunday January 29

Te Akau principal David Ellis didn’t let the torrential rain at Karaka on Sunday dampen his spirits as he was once again active in the newly named Sir Patrick Hogan Auditorium.

“We have never seen rain like this before at the sale,” Ellis said.

“It is just getting heavier and heavier. I am a farmer so I like the rain in January, you just can’t beat it. New Zealand is one big farm and we do it well.”

Lot 59, the Savabeel colt out of Fastnet Rock mare Bayrock, was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $625,000. Photo: Trish Dunell

The leading buyer warmed up with a couple of early purchases on day one of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 sale before flexing his muscle when lot 59, an imposing son of Savabeel out of Windsor Park Stud’s draft, entered the sale ring.

The colt is out of Fastnet Rock mare Bayrock, a sister to multiple Group One winner Merchant Navy and Group Two winner Jolie Bay, and stakes winner Setanta. 

Bayrock is already the dam of Hindaam, a full-sister to the colt, who won the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m) for Lindsay Park Racing.

Ellis entered a duel with the Victoria operation, eventually coming out on top with his final bid of $625,000, and he was rapt with his purchase.

“He is a ripper of a colt. He is out of a Fastnet Rock mare, by our champion sire Savabeel, and reared on one of the best farms in the world in Windsor Park Stud,” Ellis said.

“I can see that he is going to be a forward Savabeel colt. We will send him home to the farm tomorrow, give him a good spell, and then he will be broken in and we will get him going.

“He has got a beautiful pedigree, he is a full-brother to a very good filly in Australia. There is a lot to like about this colt and he won’t be for sale for long.

Advertisement

“I believe in this family big time, and I think this is the best one the mare has left and we are just so happy to have him in the stable.”

Te Akau Racing and Savabeel go together like peas and carrots, with no less than 10 Group One winners to emerge from the operation by Waikato Stud’s flagbearing stallion. 

Te Akau alumni Noverre, Embellish and Cool Aza Beel are Group One winning Savabeel colts now standing at stud, while Probabeel, The Perfect Pink, Hall Of Fame, Savy Yong Blank, Sword of Osman, Amarelinha and Prise De Fer are other Group One winners for the stable by the sire.

Eight-time champion New Zealand sire Savabeel notched his 130th stakes winner on Saturday when the Stephen Marsh-trained Mazzolino won the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham and boasts an incredible 10.9 percent stakes winners to runners.

Windsor Park Stud principal Rodney Schick was delighted with the result and is excited to see what he will do on the race track in Te Akau’s tangerine and blue silks in years to come.

“It is a fantastic price. He is a beautiful animal and DC (Ellis) is a fantastic judge. I am really excited about his racing future,” Schick said.

“It is a beautiful page and Savabeel does such a great job, I am sure he is going to be well-represented on the racetrack with this colt.”

Schick was buoyed by the strong start at Karaka despite the inclement weather, with Windsor Park selling colts by Pierro ($330,000) and Russian Revolution ($200,000) within the first 50 lots.

“It (rain) probably gets everyone in the auditorium and keeps them dry. It looks like a pretty solid sale at this stage and I hope it continues,” Schick said. – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for Savabeel

Savabeel in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Hot Lots Day 2 - Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1
The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale second session kicks off tonight our time and for those interested in the number one yearling sale in Europe we are taking a look at some of the yearlings tipped to top each day and they include the half-brother to a two time Aussie G1 winner and a colt from a mare bought in Australia for $2.3million.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 8
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Yulong Purchase into Enriched - Inglis October (Early) Sale
Three individual shares in the G2-winning entire Enriched sold for a combined $440,000 in a highly successful Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale today.
Andy Caps positive week for Alwyn Park
Alwyn Park Stud owner John Andrew has received a positive post-script to Magnificent Andy’s victory in the inaugural $1 million Golden Saddle (1200m) at Kalgoorlie on Saturday.
Wootton Bassett 3YO Impresses at Avondale
Promising three-year-old Kygo Star overcame a wide journey to come out on top in a tight finish in the Allspark Electrical Maiden 3YO (1400m) at Avondale on Wednesday.
Two Highest Priced Yearlings in World This Year Highlight Tattersalls October Day 1
The opening day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale saw two colts realise 3,700,000 guineas and 3,600,000 guineas, both exceeding the highest price for a yearling sold anywhere in the world in 2025, and five seven-figure lots.
RAM Racing Join Forces with Newgate and GPI Racing for Everest
Western Australia’s RAM Racing have joined forces with Newgate and GPI Racing in their 2025 TAB Everest slot, reuniting with Group 1-winning sprinter Overpass and are set to bring a wave of loyal supporters from the west.
Recent success highlights Inglis Digital October (Early) Sale
A range of exciting racing and breeding prospects – as well as a number of in-form racehorses and shares in Stakes winners – headline the Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale.
Three 2.2million Guineas Colts Top Second Day of Tattersalls Book 1 - Two by Wootton Bassett
The second day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale saw a further six lots realise seven-figure prices headed by a trio of colts, two by the late WOOTTON BASSETT, both bought by Amo Racing, and one by FRANKEL, at 2,200,000 guineas. The average was an impressive 352,672 guineas.