Waikato Stud had a hugely successful start to the 2020 National Yearling Sales at Karaka on Sunday, including fetching $800,000 for a Savabeel colt.
Day one at Karaka saw significant interest in the Waikato Stud yearlings, with 16 from a 71-strong draft sold through the ring today. The remaining stock will go up for auction over the next two days at New Zealand’s biggest yearling sale.
Day 1 highlights include:
Waikato Stud colt bowls Ellis over Te Akau chief
David Ellis is sold on the stock of Savabeel and he was determined to secure another top end colt at Karaka.
Ellis did just that when he fought off stiff opposition for Waikato Stud’s Lot 79 with a final bid of $800,000.
The youngster is a son of the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic winner Magic Dancer, a daughter of stakes winner Dazzling Belle.
“He’s a quality colt and exceeded our expectations,” stud principal Mark Chittick says. “I think if any horse makes over $500,000 you have to be happy. It was a battle between Te Akau and Team Hawkes and David got it.
Ellis says: “This Savabeel colt is a beautiful colt. He's attractive a colt as I've bought at this sale - the only other one I've rated as highly as this colt was Xtravagant. Genetics experts rated this genetic cross as high as you can get.
“We think this colt can run in the race (Karaka Million 2YO) next year and he'll go into this year's colts’ syndicate,” Ellis says.
“He's a different type of Savabeel to Probabeel, but I'd say he compares very favourably with Cool Aza Beel. He might be more precocious than him and he has a lot of 2-year-old black type in his pedigree.”
Ellis had earlier added to his Savabeel collection when he went to $300,000 for Waikato Stud’s filly, Lot 41. She is out of the winner and Group Two performer Lady Tatia.
The mare boasts a rich pedigree and the second dam is a sister to the multiple Group One winner Shogun Lodge. The Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes winner Referral also features on the pedigree page.
Tivaci’s early impact
Waikato Stud’s freshman sire Tivaci made an early impact during the opening session.
His first youngster through the ring, Lot 9, took the eye of agent Guy Mulcaster who secured him for $220,000.
“He’s a lovely type and sold extremely well,” Chittick says.
The colt is a son of the O’Reilly mare Kansas, who is out of the Gr.3 Frances Tressady Stakes winner Breezy.
It is a well-performed family that includes the stud’s Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes winner and Group One performer Sports Illustrated.
Shortly after a son of Savabeel proved popular and he was finally knocked down for $200,000.
Lindsay Park Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock teamed up to buy the colt out of Kazemi.
She is a winning High Chaparral mare and a half-sister to the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes winner I Do. The second dam Freequent won the Gr.3 New Zealand St Leger. The Gr.1 Queensland Derby winner Court Ruler also features on the pedigree page.
Ocean Park progeny sought after
Two youngsters by resident sire Ocean Park had more than their share of admirers on day one of selling at Karaka.
First-up was Lot 107, a filly that was purchased by Cape Schanck Stud of Victoria for $160,000.
She is a half-sister to the multiple Singapore stakes winner Kiwi Karma and a sister to the stakes winner Seaway.
It’s also the family of the Gr.2 Sir Byrne Hart Stakes winner and Gr.1 Telegraph Handicap runner-up Cheiron.
Lot 121 was the Ocean Park-My Locket colt who went to the final $150,000 of Tao Gu, of China.
He is a half-brother to the progressive Danny O’Brien-trained mare My Pendant, the winner of five races.
The dam My Locket is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks winner Miss Keepsake.
Mark Chittick says it’s a shame Waikato Stud didn’t have more Ocean Park yearlings to sell.
“Ocean Park had a huge spring – it all happened for him at exactly the right time,” Mark Chittick said.
“He’s a very exciting stallion. It’s a bit of a shame that we don’t have more of his yearlings to sell at Karaka this year. As a breeder, that’s just the way things work out sometimes. It’s still a very positive sign for his future.”
