Sought After a perfect Kiwi slot fit for Waikato Stud

Announced Saturday morning, Waikato Stud has placed its faith in a lightly tried homebred to fill their slot in the inaugural running of the Listed The NZB Kiwi over 1500 metres.

The farm has announced the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Sought After as their representative in the $3.5 million three-year-old feature to be contested on Champions’ Day at Ellerslie on 8 March.

It takes Waikato Stud’s involvement to Australasia’s slot races to the next level, having also been involved in the last two runnings at Randwick of the A$20 million The Everest, which now has Group 1 status, with another WSNZBred horse, I Wish I Win (ex Make A Wish), who was an unlucky third in 2023 and this year didn’t show up to the occasion.

“Obviously, it wasn’t the result we wanted (this year in The Everest with I Wish I Win), but it was great to be involved in a massive day at Randwick and if we can replicate something similar to that then it will be just fantastic for our industry and our country,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick said.

Sought After is another true-blue product of the Matamata nursery as a son of Tivaci and the Savabeel mare Popular, whose dam is a sister to the stud’s four-time Group 1 winner and successful but ill-fated sire Sacred Falls.

“We think he’s the right horse for us and has a lot of ability, so we identified him early and very happy to have done so,” Chittick said.

He began his career in perfect style with an impressive debut winner over 1200m at Taupo in mid-September and three weeks later finished fifth at Te Rapa after an interrupted run in an age group event over 1400m.

Sought After will be in action at Te Rapa on Monday in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial.

“He’ll go into the Sarten in great order and hopefully we can begin to collect points, that would be a great start,” Chittick said.

The Sarten is a qualifying race for the $1 million bonus attached to The NZB Kiwi, and to be eligible, a horse must win one of the various nominated New Zealand and/or Australian races and also run a top three placing in The NZB Kiwi.

In a move to further reward foundation slot holders, the three horses who accumulate the highest number of points in the lead-up events to The NZB Kiwi will earn a share of the $175,000 bonus challenge with $100,000 for the winner, $50,000 for second and $25,000 for third. 

Sought After will also chase bonus points in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas and is currently the $5 third favourite for the Riccarton Classic on 9 November.

“He’ll go to the Sarten and then the 2000 Guineas before he comes home and a break before the Kiwi,” Chittick said.