Waikato Stud sold on new Karaka format

Media Release - Thursday January 25
Pride, passion and excitement are exuding from the Waikato Stud barn at Karaka this week ahead of New Zealand Bloodstock's revamped National Yearling Sales Series which commences on Sunday evening.

Click here to watch their sales preview.

Mark ChittickAn army of 50 staff from the Matamata farm are on-site at Karaka this week parading the stud's 80-strong Book 1 draft for potential buyers and Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick is excited about the sales' new structure.

"I'm looking forward to the new concept – it should work well," he said. "The longer we can keep the Australians, and in fact all international buyers here and being able to put more horses in front of them should be a huge benefit to everyone.

"I stand to be corrected, but it's probably the biggest draft any farm has in a single sale in the southern hemisphere this summer."

Leading the stud's draft will be progeny of all-conquering sire Savabeel, who will be represented by 35 yearlings from the Matamata farm.

He will get solid backing from fellow Waikato Stud sires Ocean Park, Pins, Rock 'n' Pop and the much awaited first-season debutant Sacred Falls.

Chittick is especially excited to present the first yearlings by the son of O'Reilly.

"There's no doubt there's added excitement around Sacred Falls," he said. "We bred him, sold him as a yearling and then bought back into him at the end of his racing career.

"It's been a real homecoming with him returning to the farm and going into O'Reilly's box and we couldn't be happier with the horses he is leaving.

"They are exactly what he was as a yearling, great movers with beautiful walks and good temperaments – they are everything we could ever hope for as breeders.

"We took a couple to the recent Magic Millions sale to give buyers a taste of what he had to offer and the feedback was massive."

Chittick is buoyed by the strong results at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale as well as the continued success of New Zealand-breds on the track.

Lot 108 - Savabeel x Chilled Out"This is a massive part of our year and all the signs are there," he said. "Magic Millions was huge, more importantly New Zealand horses have had another fantastic year and we've got genuine depth in our stallion ranks."

Next week is the culmination of several years of work for the farm and Chittick is proud of the quality of yearlings that the farm will put through the sales ring.

"It's hard to believe that it was three years ago that we sat down and planned the matings for these youngsters and to see each individual develop into an outstanding and promising athlete is so rewarding for us," Chittick said.

"Feeling a real sense of pride is inevitable as each and every one of these home-breds carries the Waikato Stud brand and stems from family lines that we here at Waikato Stud are so very proud of." – NZ Racing Desk

Waikato Stud Lots to watch

108 – Savabeel x Chilled Out colt

203 – Savabeel x Far Fetched filly

265 – Savabeel x Iguazu's Girl colt

299 – Savabeel x Kashmir colt

492 – Ocean Park x Pretty filly

657 – Savabeel x Tiffany Yellow colt

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