In line with the current economic climate, Novara Park owner Luigi Muollo has made adjustments to the service fees for the stud’s four-strong stallion roster.
The fee for Staphanos has been reduced from $15,000 to $9,000 plus GST, while Sweynesse has been trimmed from $10,000 to $7,000. King Of Comedy and Press Statement remain at unchanged fees of $7,000 and $6,000 respectively.
“We are mindful of the challenges facing trainers, syndicators and breeders,” Muollo said. “The costs of production, wages, everything has increased. All of our stallions this season will have fees payable on live foaling to help breeders. We want to ensure everyone has a good chance, no matter which part of the market they operate in.
“Novara Park is always looking at offering upside and value for money to breeders. Our stallion line-up offers breeders the best bloodlines in the world, while our fees give our clients affordability.”
Deep Impact stallion Staphanos got off to a dream start with Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) winner Pignan among his first crop of two-year-olds, and he has continued to build momentum with three crops now of racing age. He is establishing a name for himself where it matters most – the Australian market.
This has been led by multiple Listed winner and multiple Group performer Basilinna, who placed in the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m), Gr.2 Kewney Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) as a three-year-old last season. She was a last-start winner of the A$300,000 Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) to gain direct entry into the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Movin Out finished third in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) last November, then was sold to Yulong and relocated across the Tasman to join the stable of Chris Waller. She impressively won the Mornington Guineas (1600m) in April, then finished fifth in the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m), third in the Gr.2 The Roses (2000m) and fourth in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m). Her full-sister The Entertainer is a three-race winner and placed in last year’s Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
Medatsu was stakes-placed in New Zealand and has subsequently banked more than A$300,000 with four metropolitan wins in Australia, while Sassy Lass rose rapidly through New Zealand’s staying ranks with four wins from five starts between June and October last year, followed by a close second in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m).
“Among current stallions at stud with Group One performers in both Australia and New Zealand, Staphanos ranks third, behind only Savabeel and Super Seth, in the percentage of Group One winners and performers to runners,” Muollo said.
“Staphanos has a number of smart horses that are proven at the highest level. He brings soundness to his progeny, and they will only improve as they mature. He was a multiple Group One performer at world-class level as a four-year-old, five-year-old and six-year old, so the best is ahead for his progeny.”
Sweynesse was the leading New Zealand sire in Hong Kong in 2023, headed by the multiple Group One-winning deeds of Lucky Sweynesse. The world’s highest-rated sprinter in 2023, Lucky Sweynesse has won 16 races including the Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) and Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m).
At the opposite end of the distance spectrum, Trust In You is the winner of the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie and finished fourth in the Group One Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick.
“Sweynesse certainly continues to enhance his record with a number of satisfying results,” Muollo said. “The progressive and consistent stakes-performed Orlov brought up win number 10, while a number of his progeny have been racking up wins in Sydney, like Sweysive and Satness. Sweynesse’s popularity in Hong Kong and Australia has been very pleasing.”
King Of Comedy’s eldest progeny are now two-year-olds, and he has been represented by a number of jumpout and trial winners.
He is by one of the hottest names in European bloodstock circles in Kingman, the second-fastest stallion in history to sire 50 individual stakes winners. Kingman has now reached 95 winners at black-type level.
Results in Australia show that King Of Comedy is a good fit for this part of the world, with Kingman’s Group One winners Zardozi and King Colorado showing his incredible strike rate is working in both hemispheres.
King of Comedy was at one point rated among the best three-year-olds in Europe after his performance in the stallion-making Gr.1 St James’s Palace Stakes (1600m). Behind King of Comedy that day was Too Darn Hot, who has made an excellent start at stud in both Europe and Australia.
“King Of Comedy has the looks, pedigree and racetrack performance to be a hit at stud,” Muollo said. “We have a number of two-year-olds about to hit the track and they look very strong and balanced.”
Dual Group One-winning stallion Press Statement, by Hinchinbrook, continues to build an impressive record. He has already sired 216 individual winners for more than $28 million in earnings, including seven stakes winners and 10 stakes performers.
“Press Statement is a proven stallion with an incredible 74 percent winners to runners ratio from his first two crops.” – NZ Racing Desk
