Crack Savabeel colt provides star turn

A superb colt by resident stallion Savabeel ensured WS’s Premier Sale business went to a higher level this afternoon. He surpassed the $450,000 realised by a son of the former Cox Plate winner on the opening day at Karaka when Te Akau Stud principal David Ellis went to $500,000 to claim the well-related youngster.

“That sets a record for the stud as the highest sale price we have achieved here at Karaka and it was appropriate it was this guy as he has been phenomenally popular leading into today,” stud principal Mark Chittick said. “We thought he was the total package and buyers evidently did as well as he was paraded over 140 times since his arrival at the Complex which is well above the norm for even the most popular lots.”

The colt is out of the O’Reilly mare Splashing Out who won four races, including the Gr 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes and a runner-up finish in the Gr 1 Ascot Vale Stakes. She is also a three-quarter sister to WS’s high-profile graduate and future stallion Sacred Falls (Gr 1 Doncaster Handicap, Gr 1 NZ 2000 Guineas). Both of the mare’s foals to race have won with Shopaholic (Pins) successful in the Gr 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes and the Gr 3 Vanity Stakes and the stakes placed Spending.

“I first saw this colt in November and again in December and I thought he was the pick of the best Waikato draft I’ve seen and one of the nicest colts in the sale,” successful purchaser Ellis said. “He will form an integral part of the four-horse syndicate we will put together after the sale as we continue to build stallion opportunities for our domestic market. As I’ve said many times it is imperative we retain these royally-bred colts in New Zealand to benefit our local industry.”

An O’Reilly filly from the Gold Brose mare Zamfir also set the ring alight when she was finally knocked down for $475,000 to young Sydney trainer Bruce Heys. She had been touted as one of the farm’s leading fillies and so it proved with an opening bid of $200,000 for the youngster from the family of the Gr 1 Telegraph Handicap winner Irish Fling.

O’Reilly was again to the fore when his daughter of Striptease, a half-sister to the stakes winner Savour The Moment (Savabeel) went to Raffles Farm for $350,000. She features the Group One winners Anacheeva (Caulfield Guineas) and Headturner (VRC Derby) on her pedigree page.