De Burgh Purchases $500,000 Savabeel Colt

Media Release - Wednesday January 30

International Bloodstock Agent Hubie De Burgh kicked off the annual National Yearling Sale with a bang and he has ended his four-day visit to New Zealand on a similar note.

$500,000 Savabeel colt from CupidDe Burgh outlaid $500,000 for an I Am Invincible filly early on day one at Karaka and he matched that figure when he purchased Lot 657, a Savabeel colt out of O'Reilly mare Cupid from the Waikato Stud draft.

The colt is a three-quarter brother to Waikato Stud's $1.4 million sale-topping Savabeel/Make A Wish colt, a fact that wasn't lost on De Burgh.

"He is closely related to the $1.4million colt, who is a beautiful horse that we wanted to buy, but I didn't have that sort of cheque book," he said.

"If we were looking for a Cox Plate horse then I guess this guy (Lot 657) is what he is.

"He's a really athletic horse who is beautifully balanced and really walks – he just floats on air.

"He is by this great stallion, out of the great Savabeel/O'Reilly cross, and also has Pins in his next dam.

"When you package that up and he has also come from a great Stud who breeds so many group winners, you are reducing the level of risk."

As with the I Am Invincible filly, the colt is headed to Lindsay Park in Melbourne for Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his Shadwell Racing operation.

Advertisement

"We're done now, we've blown the chequebook," De Burgh said.

"We bought four for Sheikh Hamdan and tried to balance things up.

"The I Am Invincible filly should be an early two-year old with a lovely page (pedigree), where we gave what I thought was a fair price.

"I still go back and talk about the prizemoney you can win. It (the sale price) is a lot of money, so let's not be flippant about it, but if you have been lucky enough to buy a horse that can gallop then you can win that back.

"The problem is that you come here to this sale and when there is a nice horse, they don't hide. You can't just say I will wait as no-one else has seen it as they pick them out.

"It is the same in Europe and in Australia for the good horses. It is the same in property and art and in any commodity, the rules are the same."

De Burgh also purchased Lot 272, a Redoute's Choice filly from the Pencarrow Stud draft for $200,000 along with Lot 275, an Iffraaj colt for $360,000 from Haunui Farm for Sheikh Hamdan plus Lot 411, a Savabeel colt from Waikato Stud for $150,000 for another client. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
Elite Broodmare Band Booked to Celestial Legend
Woodside Park Stud is proud to announce they are sending an outstanding group of broodmares to visit their exciting young sire Celestial Legend. 
Te Akau Stars Warm Up at Taupo Trials
Perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha headlined a strong contingent of trialists out of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable at Taupo on Monday.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Mo'Unga Looking to Bounce Back
Trainer Annabel Neasham is looking forward to stepping out Group One winner Mo’unga in the Gr.2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, where she is expecting to see an improved run from the entire.
Probabeel Shows her Class
Superstar three-year-old Probabeel proved a class above her age-group rivals when she made a winning start to her summer campaign over 1400m at Awapuni on Saturday.
Zoustar 7YO on Comeback Trail
Joliestar is not the only good Zoustar carrying the colours of Cambridge Stud as Lance Noble has his eye on a major early season prize with one of the few older members of his stable.
Savabeel Colt Secures Karaka Million Start
Te Akau Racing’s quest to win the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) for the fourth year in succession was bolstered considerably when Cool Aza Beel ensured his place in the field with a dominant victory at Tauranga on Friday.