Mo’Unga Retires to Newhaven Park in 2024

Media Release - Thursday April 25

Newhaven Park is thrilled to unveil its stallion roster for 2024, showcasing a trio of both proven and promising young sires.

Distinguished by their status as Group 1 winners and with top tier international pedigrees, the stellar lineup includes Xtravagant (NZ), Cool Aza Beel (NZ) and eagerly anticipated newcomer this season, Mo’unga (NZ).

Joining the Newhaven Park roster in 2024 is dual Group 1 winner, Mo’unga, who shall be standing his first season at $27,500 (inc GST).

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$3.8million earner Mo'Unga will stand at Newhaven Park at a fee of $27,500.

The hugely consistent son of New Zealand’s eight-time Champion sire Savabeel, was a winner on debut at two, before taking out the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas as a three-year-old. Mo’unga went on to win the Group 1 Winx Stakes, beating a formidable field which included Champion racemare Verry Elleegant (NZ).

Rarely missing a beat during his 29-race career, the talented colt was placed a further 12 times in Group 1 company.

Showing incredible toughness and durability at the highest level, Mo’unga finished ahead of an impressive roll call of Group 1 winners over the course of his career that include Zaaki (GB), Montefillia, Sir Dragonet (IRE), Cascadian (GB), Think It Over, Hungry Heart, Tofane (NZ), Colette and Anamoe.

Bred by Waikato Stud, the well-related Newhaven Park newcomer is out of the stakes-placed O’Reilly (NZ) mare Chandelier (NZ), a sister to eight winners including Group 2 victress Irlanda (NZ) and is from the family of Group 1-winning Chenille (NZ).

Newhaven Park principal, John Kelly enthused, “It’s an exciting time for us at Newhaven Park, to be retiring a horse of Mo’unga’s calibre to the stud. His race record really showcases his  soundness and durability - a winner on debut at two, a Group 1 winner at three, but also placing a  further 12 times at Group 1 level - that’s  testament to his toughness and a trait that he will surely pass onto his progeny.

Kelly continued, “He’s also a beautiful specimen, fetching $325,000 as a yearling, his physical certainly matches up to his racing credentials. We’re very keen on New Zealand bloodlines here and we hope that his pedigree also offers a lot of options for Australian breeders.”

A fellow dual Group 1 winner on the Newhaven Park roster is the Champion New Zealand 3YO, Xtravagant, standing at $16,500 (inc GST) for the 2024 season.

Xtravagant, click for more info an a Hypo mating.

Making a strong start to his stud career, the son of Pentire (GB) sired Group 2-winning Lavish Girl in addition to stakes winners Devoted and He’s Xceptional in only his first crop. With  progeny continuing to perform at the highest  level, his offspring also include the impressive Group 3 Adrian Knox stakes winner Arts, Inglis 2YO Millennium winner Xtravagant Star and Group 2-placed Nadal.

Kelly said, “Xtravagant was a brilliant racehorse. With a dazzling 8-length victory on debut as a two-year-old, he went on to be exceptional at three with record breaking victories in New Zealand’s Gr.1 2000 Guineas and the Gr.1 Waikato Sprint against older horses - beating five individual Group 1 winners in the process.

“Out of Zabeel (NZ) mare Axiom (NZ), he’s a full brother to Group 1 performer He’s Remarkable (NZ) and also provides Australian breeders with a superb outcross to Danehill lines.

“We continue to be thrilled with the support he is receiving at stud from breeders, and he has consistently held a strong book of mares since his retirement. As his pedigree would suggest, Xtravagant’s progeny are maturing types so we really believe the best is still ahead of us.”

Rounding out a stellar trio of stallions on the  Newhaven Park roster is Cool Aza Beel, who stands at $16,500 (inc GST) for 2024.

Cool Aza Beel, click for more info and a Hypo Mating.

Retiring in 2021, the son of Savabeel was a superstar of his generation as a two-year-old, taking out the Karaka Million in prolific style before claiming the Group 1 Sistema Stakes over 1200m.

Out of the winning Testa Rossa mare Cool ‘N’ Sassy, the promising young sire is from the fam­ily that has produced Group 1 winners Aloha, Malaguerra and Seabrook, as well as stakes stars Libertini and Hawaii Five Oh. Well supported by breeders in his first three seasons, Cool Aza Beel’s first yearlings were hotly anticipated at the sales and achieved prices of up to $280,000.

“It has been fantastic to see the support for Cool Aza Beel in his first three seasons at Newhaven Park and that has been backed up by his popularity at the sales. His first yearlings are in the hands of a number of Australia’s top  conditioners including Ciaron Maher, Peter Moody and Danny O’Brien - so it’s exciting to see what the future holds,” said Kelly.

“We continue to champion New Zealand bloodlines at Newhaven Park and we are really proud of the three stallions we have to present for the 2024 season. While providing breeders with an obvious outcross in New South Wales, they also offer a range of opportunities for breeders based on their elite and varying race records and physicals.”

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