Waikato Stud Mourns The Loss Of Sacred Falls

Media Release - Sunday December 1

The Chittick family and the team at Waikato Stud are in mourning after the shock loss of their best mate and emerging young stallion, Sacred Falls.

The Waikato Stud veterinary team identified an issue with the stallion’s liver just on a fortnight ago and despite receiving world-class treatment at both the Stud and then at Matamata Veterinary Services equine hospital, his condition deteriorated overnight and he passed away early on Sunday morning.

The son of Waikato Stud’s champion sire O’Reilly was in his fifth season of stallion duties after retiring to the Matamata nursery following a storied career on the track, where he numbered four Group One victories amongst nine wins including the Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) on two occasions.Waikato Stud's four-time Group One winner Sacred Falls Photo: Trish Dunell

Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick was devastated with the loss of not only a potential world-class stallion but also a horse that held a special place in the hearts of the Chittick family.

“It’s been a very tough morning for all the team here as he (Sacred Falls) has been such a cool horse to be involved with,” Chittick said.

“He had a wonderful temperament and a really engaging personality and all the staff here just love him.

“He meant a lot to us all, especially as he had played such a big part in our lives during some very tough times.”

Chittick was referring to both the loss of Sacred Fall’s sire, O’Reilly and the passing of his first wife Lisa, who succumbed to leukaemia in May 2014.

“When Lisa was sick and receiving treatment, Sacred Falls brought plenty of joy for us when he won the Doncaster Handicap in 2013 and again in 2014,” he said.

Advertisement

“When O’Reilly died, Sacred Falls had just arrived at the Stud so it was like the torch had been passed from father to son so he was a very special horse for us all.Two time Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls - image Mark Smith

“I have nothing but praise for our head vet, Dr Chris Phillips, his team and all the staff at Matamata Vet Services as they did everything in their power to try and save the horse but it just wasn’t to be.”

Sacred Falls will return home to Waikato Stud where he will be buried next to O’Reilly, with the Chittick family currently determining an appropriate tribute to their fallen mate.

Bred and sold by Waikato Stud as a yearling, Sacred Falls won his first six races including the Gr.1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (1600m) in the care of Cambridge trainer Tony Pike for owners Raffles Racing.

Waikato Stud subsequently secured equity in the homebred colt who added a further three Group One victories in Australia when transferred to champion trainer Chris Waller.

With his eldest progeny just three, Sacred Falls has left six winners to date including the highly-talented filly Shoshone for Ken and Bev Kelso.

A total of 42 yearlings by the emerging stallion will be offered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales in late January, while his progeny sold up to $260,000 at the recent Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs.  – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
War Machine Stakes Everest Claim - G2 Gilgai
David Hayes has a New Zealand-bred superstar heading into the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in two weeks, where his sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes might line up against him with a Kiwi-bred Group One winner of their own.
First Stakes Horse for Home Affairs
The Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a strong field of talented colts from the recent official 2YO trials in Sydney and Home Affairs looks to have a quality youngster in I’m Ya Huckleberry.
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
First Winner for Sacred Falls
Exciting prospect Shoshone delivered the first win for her sire, the Waikato Stud-based Sacred Falls, in fine fashion when she led all the way over 1200m at Ellerslie on Monday.
Smart Effort from Sacred Falls Colt
A well-related Sacred Falls youngster impressed in his first trial outing at Ashburton yesterday.
McGaw Firms For Coolmore Stud Stakes After G2 Danehill Win
Considered an outside chance in betting markets, Emma-Lee and David Browne’s I Am Immortal gelding McGaw dented the reputation of a few leading Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes contenders with a fighting win in the $300,000 Gr2 VRC Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Media World Adds to Millionaire Yearling Stakes Success
Stakes racing on Saturday produced a number of stakes-winners purchased for seven figures as yearlings in Australia with $1.8million Inglis Easter sale-topper Autumn Glow leading the way in the Group I ATC Epsom after earlier success for $1million 2YO Incognito, while at Flemington $1.4million entire Media World took out the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).
Sir Delius Delivers G1 Turnbull Stakes Win
Adding Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 VRC Turnbull Stakes (2000m) to his Group 1 MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) victory last start, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Sir Delius further enhanced his outstanding reputation ahead of an assault on the WS Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chris Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Stakes Goals Ahead for Sacred Falls 2YO
Vibrato shook off his rivals at Rotorua on Wednesday to score a comfortable victory in the At Cook Contraction 2YO (1230m).