Savabeel filly strikes early on

High-priced yearling Shield Wall capped the encouraging start she has made to his career with a victory at Kembla Grange this afternoon. The three-year-old had placed in four of her previous five appearances and a step up to a mile was all that was required for her to open her account.
A daughter of Savabeel in the Chris Waller stable, Shield Wall was purchased out of WS’s 2015 Premier Sale draft to Karaka in 2015 for $260,000. Out of Natural Rhythm, she is a sister to the stakes winner and Group performer Ray’s Girl.
It is a strong black type family that features the dual Group One heroine Domino, in turn the dam of the top-flight winner Hero. WS sold Shield Wall’s half-sister by Pins at Karaka last year to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $240,000.

 

Recent News
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.

Read More
9 July 2026

WS graduate Honour Roll out to add stakes success at Otaki

Waikato Stud will be cheering on one of its promising graduates on Friday when Honour Roll contests the Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. The WS-bred son of the late Champion sire …

Read More