$850,000 Wolverine Heads Back to New Zealand to Race On

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday May 23

Australian Bloodstock colour bearer Wolverine (NZ) will head back to her homeland of New Zealand after fetching $850,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when snapped up by David Ellis of Te Akau Racing.

Wolverine sold for $850,000 and will race on in New Zealand - image MM

“I walked onto the complex today and I was a million-to-one to buy a horse,” Ellis revealed.

“Sam Bergerson, who runs Te Akau Racing with Mark Walker, took me and showed me this mare that his family had a share in, and I thought, ‘this mare is too young to retire’, so I thought I’d have a crack and at her and I finished up buying it.”

Ellis knows plenty about Wolverine having watched her race in New Zealand many times before her transfer to Australia last year.

“We just beat her in the Karaka Million with Dynastic and then Maven Belle in the Sires (G1),” he said.

Advertisement

“We’re pretty excited to have her, another nice one for Mark and Sam to train next season.

“For a mare of her quality, I think she was well-bought.”

David Ellis will give Wolverine a chance to recapture her best form next season - image MM

Consigned for sale by Yarraman Park, Wolverine has not finished further back than fourth in her last five Australian starts, all in Black Type races.

By Tivaci from a super successful Kiwi family tracing to blue hen Hunza, Wolverine is already a multiple Group winner and may enhance her race record and value even further if she finds her best form next season.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday June 23
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 24
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
G1 Tatts Tiara – Where Are They Now?
The last Group I race of the Australian racing season, the $700,000 Tatts Tiara (1400m) will be run this Saturday and as a fillies and mares feature the winner is often headed straight to stud, so we’re taking a look at where these girls are at.
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.