High Hopes for Sweynesse First Crop

Media Release - Tuesday January 22

Novara Park manager Ray Knight hopes lightning will strike twice when the first yearlings by Sweynesse go through the sale ring during Karaka 2019.

SweynesseKnight, who manages the fledgling Cambridge farm for Luigi Muollo, has fond memories of the 2017 edition of the sale. Novara Park's ill-fated foundation stallion Jakkalberry was a headline act with his first crop, selling 12 yearlings for a total of more than $950,000 including a $440,000 price tag for a half-brother to Efficient.

"I don't know if we'll be able to hit those sorts of heights again, but I guess you never know," Knight said. "We didn't really expect to have those results with Jakkalberry's first yearlings either."

Sweynesse is by Lonhro out of the Singspiel mare Swansea, making him a half-brother to the Group Three winner and Group One-placed Rimraam.

Carrying the all-blue colours of Godolphin, Sweynesse won four of his 13 starts including the Gr. 3 Gloaming Stakes and Spring Stakes. He also ran second in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and third in the Gr.3 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).

"It's always an exciting time when a stallion has his first yearlings going through the ring," Knight said. "Sweynesse is a lovely horse. He was a very good racehorse who we never saw the best of, and historically New Zealand breeders have done very well with this sort of horse."

There are five yearlings in the Karaka Book 1 catalogue, with 10 in Book 2 and eight in Book 3.

Novara Park will offer just four of those, with Sweynesse yearlings also featuring in the drafts of Windsor Park Stud, Wentwood Grange, Nala Park, Leanach Lodge, Kilgravin Lodge, Ralph Thoroughbreds, Mapperley Stud, Brighthill Farm, Bradbury Park, Highfield Grange, Westend Partnership, Cambria Park, Sedgmere Farm and Grangewilliam Stud.

Advertisement

"The feedback from other vendors has been terrific, and that's how it's been every step of the way with this stallion," Knight said. "It dates right back to when his first foals arrived.

"He's had consistently strong support and good books of mares, and many of those are mares who have returned to him after breeders have seen the quality of foals he's produced. It's very encouraging."

Overall, Knight is upbeat in the countdown to Karaka 2019, although he acknowledges the industry uncertainty that was clearly felt by vendors at the recent Ready to Run Sale.

"It's always an exciting time of year, and with a quality draft of yearlings heading towards the sale we have good reason to be excited," he said.

"But on the other hand, there's a bit of apprehension as we all wait to see what happens with the New Zealand industry.

"I think that what the industry really needs is confidence. Once a few things are in place and we see some signs of positive change, I'm sure everything will rebound quite quickly." – The Informant

Advertisment
More Reading...
Waller Stable Hold the Key to Melbourne Cup
Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller has 27 of the 120 entries for this year’s $10million Melbourne Cup, which equates to more than 20 per cent of the total, so it’s probably worth having a closer look at them.
Engine of War Wins for MyRacehorse at Sandown
VRC Derby aspirant Engine Of War made a winning Australian debut from the quarters of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday over 1500m.
$50,000 Sweynesse Filly Tops Karaka Book Three
New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka auditorium lit-up early on day seven of their National Yearling Sale, when lot 1090, the Sweynesse filly out of Tavistock mare Happy Endings, entered the sales ring.
Sweynesse 2YO's Impress at Trials
It might be early days, but juveniles by dual Group Three winning stallion Sweynesse have made a positive impression.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday September 3
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vivid Sun Shines Bright At Sandown
Recording her second win in as many starts, 3yo The Autumn Sun filly Vivid Sun looked something special as she resumed from a spell at Sandown to trounce her rivals by more than two lengths on Wednesday, signalling a step up to black type races during the Spring.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 2
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Almanzor Mare Salutes for Cambridge Stud
Daring Dame broke through for an elusive win when taking out the Kensington Tavern 1200 at Ruakaka on Wednesday.
Winning Debut for Blueblood Cox Plate Dreamer
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate’ dreamers and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who made a winning debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
G3 Tibbie Next for Tuileries
Lightly raced So You Think mare Tuileries has long promised to measure up to stakes class and will be given that opportunity next start after returning to top form to win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.