Paco Boy Proving Highly Popular in NZ

10 September 2011

With his book fast approaching full, Waikato Stud’s new stallion Paco Boy is proving highly popular with breeders in New Zealand this season.

“We are just rapt with the response we’ve had to him,” said Waikato Stud’s General Manager, Mark Chittick of the triple G1 winner.

“In this current environment, breeders are quite rightly being very selective in who they do and don’t send their mares to. To have him nudging the full book mark, really speaks volumes about him.”

Evidently, the lynchpin to the Green Desert-line stallion’s popularity has been getting people to the farm to see him.

“Once people see what an athletic individual he is, it really confirms to them just why he was such an exceptional racehorse,” explained Mark.

To this end, the former Richard Hannon-trained galloper counted three G1 wins in England and France from 1400m-1600m at ages three, four and five.

With these wins, Great Britain’s Champion Miler title and no less than five other Group wins to his credit, Paco Boy’s popularity saw him enjoy a cult following in the Northern Hemisphere.

This regard immediately translated itself at stud in the UK, with 133 mares making their way to see him at Highclere Stud’s breeding barn earlier this year. Importantly, Paco Boy rewarded such sojourns with a 90% fertility rate.

Looking towards his first season at stud in New Zealand – where he stands for $12,500 plus GST, Paco Boy likewise boasts a quality Kiwi dance card.

Paco Boy’s 2011 New Zealand highlights include:

The dam of G1 Queensland Derby winner Lachlan River.
The dams of black-type winners Glamorous Girl, Baltaine, Betcha Wood, Sarajay, Stickpin and Splashing Out.
The G1 AJC Australian Oaks winner, On Air.
Black-type winners Iguazu, Minnaloushka, Etoile Du Nord and Madison Gray.
Sisters to the black-type winners Salsa, St Germaine and Gallopin
Half-sisters to the G1 winners Great Command and Zamlight.
Half-sisters to the black-type winners Dahlia’s Legacy, Neo Star, Breezy, Evergreen, My Flashing Star and On A Swing; and
Two Group One daughters.

Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle

A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.

9 July 2026

Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding

Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.

Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.