Savabeel colt popular at Karaka

A son of Savabeel made a splash late in the closing session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.

Magus Equine’s Willie Leung went to $440,000 to secure a half-brother to Waikato Stud’s multiple Group One winner and sire Sacred Falls.

The colt was originally sold by the Matamata farm for $200,000 earlier this year with his dam a half-sister to the Gr.3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes winner and Gr.1 Ascot Vale Stakes runner-up Splashing Out.

She has been a fine producer as well and is the mother of the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes winner Splurge, the Gr.2 Angus Armanasco Stakes winner Shopaholic and her brother Splashing Out, successful in the G2 Rotorua Stakes and three times a Group One placegetter.

“It’s always a dream to have a horse with a stallion’s pedigree. He is by Savabeel, who is doing very well in Hong Kong, and of course he is a champion stallion,” Leung said.

“This one was quite reasonable I thought. He’s very strong and with his pedigree he is good value and I got him within budget.

“We will be trying our best to keep the horse as a colt, but we’ll have to see how he goes in the next six months. He will spell here for a month and then have a preparation and, all going well, will go up to Hong Kong next winter.”