Waikato Stud presents a roster of seven stallions for the 2024 season, headlined by New Zealand’s sire sensation, Savabeel.
With a reputation for producing tough sprinter/ milers, the line-up also offers diversity in bloodlines for breeders and opportunity for value at every level.
“We continue to place emphasis on good, tough miler types and our 2024 roster represents that,” said studmaster, Mark Chittick.
“Longevity is a key part of our recipe for success, and rather than focussing solely on a successful first few seasons for our sires, we decide upon fees that we hope will set them up for the long term and provide commercial opportunity for breeders.
“We are also experiencing a piqued interest from Australian breeders off the back of their success with proven New Zealand stallions that continue to achieve at the highest level within Australasia.”
SAVABEEL - $100,000 + GST (NO LFG)
The eight-time New Zealand Champion sire, Savabeel, remains a major flagbearer for Waikato Stud and his progeny continue to perform at the highest level on the world stage. With a roll of honour which numbers 32 individual Group 1 winners, Savabeel’s top flight performers this season include the effortless Gr.1 New Zealand Derby winner Orchestral, who backed up the performance across the Tasman Sea with success in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes.
Atishu added another Group 1 win to her list of accolades in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington and Skew Wiff took out the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy.
Savabeel is the second highest producer of Stakes winners ever to stand in New Zealand and with a tally of 145, he is closing in on his own all conquering sire Zabeel who finished his career with 166.
SUPER SETH - $45,000 + GST (LFG)
Super Seth has enjoyed an outstanding first crop of runners this season and showcases an eye to the future for Waikato Stud.
The Group 1-winning son of Dundeel was an exceptional racehorse, winning his first two juvenile starts before dazzling in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas as a three-year-old against a stellar field that included previously unbeaten Alligator Blood.
With pedigree and looks to match his outstanding race record, Super Seth’s highly anticipated first runners have included Group 3 winner and Gr.1 Champagne Stakes runner up Linebacker, as well as the Group 2-placed Poetic Champion.
Of his exciting first-season sire, Chittick explains, “He’s the type of horse that really suits the tough, high level Australasian racing. We’ve
sourced him from what we believe is the toughest racing in the world and we knew he was a high profile colt the day he beat Alligator Blood in the Caulfield Guineas.
“He was an expensive stallion purchase but he was exactly the type of horse we wanted and at this early stage his progeny are proving
that they are following in his footsteps. They are good horses. That’s exactly what we are trying to achieve with a horse like Super Seth at Waikato Stud.”
Results on the racetrack have been supported by results in the sales ring for Super Seth’s offspring. Across yearling and two-year-old sales, his progeny have sold for up to $700,000
OCEAN PARK - $20,000 + GST (LFG)
Another stalwart of the Waikato Stud stallion roster is five-time Group 1 winner, Ocean Park. A Champion in both Australia and New Zealand during his racing career, Ocean Park was renowned for his remarkable toughness and enduring soundness; qualities which he has undoubtedly passed to his progeny.
Multiple Group 1 winners that include Tofane and Kolding propelled him onto the top table as a sire and his offspring continue to dominate races across Australia and New Zealand, with Kovalica’s impressive Gr. 1 Queensland Derby win a more recent victory at the highest level.
Underpinned by consistency throughout his career as a racehorse and now sire, Ocean Park has produced 782 race wins from 278 winners, across distances that range from 1200m to 3200m. He has sired four individual Group 1 winners, with 21 black-type winners in total.
With prize money that amounts to over NZ$51 million, his progeny also continue to be popular at the sales and achieved a top price of $700,000 at this year’s Inglis Easter Sale.
ARDROSSAN - $20,000 + GST (LFG)
Group-winning sprinter Ardrossan, offers breeders another opportunity for diversity on the Waikato Stud roster. By outstanding sire of sires Redoute’s Choice, the young sire is out of Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) runner up Miss Argyle, representing precocity on both sides of his pedigree.
During a brief racing career, Ardrossan showcased immense Group 1 potential and while an injury forced early retirement from the
track, he was unbeaten in two starts in New Zealand before beating top tier competitors in Australia in the Gr.3 ARC Concorde Stakes.
Winning four of his nine starts, he showed his class when a close third to multiple Group 1 winners Melody Belle and The Bostonian in the
Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint.
With a distinguished pedigree and untapped potential on the racetrack, Ardrossan’s first runners have evidently inherited his qualities
and his first two crops have included Stakes winners Saltcoats, Codigo, Loch Katherine and Beau Dazzler.
NOVERRE - $10,000 +GST (LFG)
TIVACI - $8,000 + GST (LFG)
BANQUO - $3,000 +GST (LFG)
