Westbury Stud Track Record of Success

Media Release - Monday January 22

Westbury Stud has an enviable feature race roll of honour with graduates of the farm excelling to the highest level over a wide range of distances.

The Gerry Harvey-owned Karaka nursery has bred, raised or sold multiple New Zealand Horse of the Year winners, complimented by Australasian stakes success from 1200 to 3200m.

Westbury graduate Bonneval was a two-time Horse of the Year with the Harvey-bred and part-owned Sharp ‘N’ Smart the current titleholder following his stellar three-year-old season.

Sharp 'n' Smart is a multiple G1 winner - image Steve Hart

The son of resident stallion Redwood won at Group One level for Team Rogerson against his own age group in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and the New Zealand Derby (2400m) and in between times beat the older horses in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).

“Sharp ‘N’ Smart is back on track and at 1600m (in the $1 million Aotearoa Classic) on Saturday you’d like to think he will be competitive, but ambitious to think he could beat Legarto,” Westbury General Manager Russell Warwick said.

“If he can run top four then he’ll be right on target to defend his Herbie Dyke title.”

Tarzino’s son Jungle Magnate was another Classic winner (Gr.1 South Australian Derby, 2500m) sold by Westbury at Karaka while Oaks winners Bonneval, Miami Bound, Sofia Rosa and Miss Mossman also originated from the nursery.

So too did last season’s Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) winner Romancing The Moon while the honours board further features the Karaka Million winner Ruud Awakening, Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) hero Music Magnate, Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1200m) winner Julius and Mascarpone, successful in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m).

Lucky Patch is a multiple Group Two winner in Hong Kong and at the other end of the distance scale, Platinum Invador claimed last year’s Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m).

Renaissance Woman was bred and sold by Westbury Stud - image Grant Courtney

The current crop of success stories includes the likes of Renaissance Woman, Tuchel, Just As Sharp, Renegade Rebel, Viva Vienna, Solidify, The Inferno, Lekvarte, Essonne and Expat.

“We had 12 stakes winners off the farm last year, but as everyone says the clock goes back to zero on August 1 and we’ve had four in the new season, which is great,” Warwick said.

Westbury will offer abundant opportunities to secure future stars at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

“Personally, I’ve got a real liking for the Redwood colt (Lot 570) out of Alta Floresta, he’s a really nice horse,” Warwick said.

Advertisement

“He’s a seven-eighths brother to Tuchel, who was narrowly beaten in the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and we’d like to think he will attract a fair bit of interest, particularly from the Asian market.”

Warwick is also keen on Lot 528, a daughter of Reliable Man out of the Encosta De Lago mare Wednesday Rocks.

“She’s a really good filly and is a half-sister to Platinum Command (Gr.3 Winter Cup, 1600m) and Group performer Platinum Rapper,” he said.

“Reliable Man has already sired two Oaks winners (Miami Bound, Miss Sentimental) and there’s another two Oaks winners in the pedigree, Dizelle and Pinot.”

Westbury graduate Massive Talent was a timely winner in Hong Kong on Sunday night as the draft also includes his half-sister, Lot 665.

“She’s also by Reliable Man and a very good type and Roger James bought the half-sister by Tarzino last year for $240,000 and Kris Lees has the Swiss Ace half-brother Cloudland, who has won five of 11 and is obviously a talented horse.”

El Roca

Warwick said both Westbury’s Book 1 and 2 drafts also featured quality representation of resident stallion El Roca.

“We have concentrated on getting consistency right across the drafts and we’ve got some really nice El Rocas in both catalogues,” he said.

“El Roca is doing a marvelous job and is currently ahead of Proisir, Per Incanto and Satono Aladdin on the New Zealand Sires’ Premiership. The only live stallion above him is Savabeel.

“He has appeal as he’s had two Group One-winning fillies and his colts have done exceptionally well with the likes of Lucky Patch and Mali Ston.

“That’s been borne out at the sales in the last couple of years with two of our El Rocas going to Hong Kong and in the Ready to Run Sale we got $400,000 for Lot 1 and later on Bjorn Baker bought a filly for $190,000.

“Australia and Asia have decent respect for El Roca as a sire.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Can Zougotcha Outshine Sunlight?
The Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale kicks off on Tuesday with a stellar draft of race fillies and mares with one of the star lots tipped to be Zougotcha, who has many similarities with the 2020 sale-topper Sunlight.
Wootton Bassett 2YO Colt Wins G3 – Royal Ascot Next
The big meeting at The Curragh overnight produced an exciting new two year-old stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett with Albert Einstein making it two wins in as many starts when taking out the Group III Marble Hill Stakes (6f).
Blue Gum Farm Announce 2025 Fees
Leading Victorian stud, Blue Gum Farm, is pleased to announce its 2025 stallion roster and service fees, headlined by exciting young sire Sejardan, who will stand at an unchanged fee of $13,750.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 27
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
14 Mares Sell for $1million or More - $5.25m Zougotcha the Star
Triple Group One winner Zougotcha became the most expensive horse sold at auction in the Southern Hemisphere this year when she realised $5.25 million at today's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
James Harron Buys Lady Laguna for $2.5million
Astute bloodstock agent James Harron is no stranger to success at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale having purchased elite $6million earning Group I sprinter Sunshine in Paris at the Gold Coast for $3.9million in 2023.
2025 Stud and Stable Staff Awards Winners Announced
The 11th annual Stud and Stable Staff Awards celebrated the winners of seven categories at The QT Hotel on the Gold Coast on Monday, 26 May. The ceremony, hosted by Ally Mosley and James Tzaferis, honoured the exceptional contributions of staff across the Australian thoroughbred industry, with winners representing five states highlighting the national breadth of talent within the industry.
Sires With Winners - Monday May 26
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Widden Purchase MM 2YO Classic Winner for $1.35million
Widden Stud were active at the top end as a vendor at the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday and also as a buyer securing Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Skirt the Law for $1.35million.
$5.25million Zougotcha - Waller Stars Set Sale Ring Alight
Chris Waller Racing consigned two of the stable’s superstar older mares to the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday with Zougotcha (Zoustar) selling for $5.25million and Atishu (Savabeel) for $2.7million.