Archibald Racing open Noverre’s account with debut winner
The next chapter in Noverre‘s journey as a sire has begun, with the Waikato Stud-bred stallion’s WS-bred son, Hailstones (ex Cool Storm), becoming the first winner for the Group 1-winning son of Savabeel.
Co-bred by Waikato Stud and Bill and Suzi Pomare, Hailstones is out of the mare Cool Storm and was offered as part of our 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling draft. There, he caught the eye of astute buyers Annabel and Rob Archibald and Will Johnson of William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA), who secured him for $150,000.
He was one of two Noverres the Archibald/Johnson team purchased in 2025, the other being another Waikato Stud-bred Noverre, this time a filly ex Candelabra offered at Magic Millions and puchased for A$140,000.
Cool Storm has a weanling filly by Super Seth and is currently in foal to Auguste Rodin.
The win is a landmark moment for Noverre, whose eldest crop are currently racing as two-year-olds. With only nine starters this season, Noverre has already produced stakes-placed Bella Bonita, who has already signalled real promise before Hailstones delivered the first victory, and together they paint an exciting picture of what this young sire is capable of producing.
At the 2026 yearling sales, trainers continued to have confidence in the Group 1-winning son with Moody Racing going to $200,000; other trainers included Lindsay Park, Grahame Begg, and Wexford Stables.
Noverre stands for a fee of $10,000 plus GST, live foal gaurantee this season.
The Corner with Garry Chittick
The writing of my Corner started many years ago, motivated by an irritation that I felt needed scratching. It was never my intention to make my commentary regular; neither did I intend to reinvent the direction of racing administration. It is both disappointing and ironical that what should be a simple, straightforward business provides a regular need for comment.
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