Stud stalwart’s dominance continues

Savabeel’s champion qualities were again evident when he again provided Waikato Stud with its star turn during the opening session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.

His headline act was offered late in the day as Lot 210 and, following a bidding war, it was The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams who had the final say at $400,000.

The colt is a true-blue product of the Matamata farm with his dam the O’Reilly mare Glee and three-time Group 1 winner Daffodil a star in the pedigree.

It is a potent family that also numbers the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Aegon and the G1 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce S. winner Good Faith within its ranks.

Savabeel was again the dominant force on Day 1 with his son, Lot 59, the session-topper when the Windsor Park Stud-offered colt was knocked down to Te Akau’s David Ellis for $625,000.

His daughter, Lot 97 from Elsdon Park, was the top filly of the day with trainer Andrew Forsman, Andrew Williams Bloodstock and Bevan Smith Bloodstock going to $600,000 for the youngster.

A half-brother by Super Seth to last year’s auction-topper was another hot ticket item for Waikato Stud when the son of its exciting first season sire sold for $380,000.

The colt, Lot 91, is out of the O’Reilly mare Chandelier and 12 months ago the Matamata farm sold her youngster by Savabeel with trainer Annabel Neasham and prominent owner Tony Fung signing the ticket at $1 million.

The unraced juvenile has been named Hey Bro’unga and is a brother to Neasham’s two-time Group 1 winner Mo’unga.

His half-sibling by Super Seth is a fine looking individual and with the G1 Auckland Cup winner Chenille also featuring on the pedigree page he was a package that attracted widespread interest before trainer Stephen Marsh and partners had the final say.

“We were rapt to secure him at the price we did,” Marsh said.

“We always look at type first, but it is always nice when you are a half to a great Group 1 winner like Mo’unga. It makes it a lot easier.

“The Super Seths sold remarkably well on the Gold Coast, they are very popular. He was a great racehorse and we were always going to try and buy this one.”

A close relation in Waikato Stud’s draft, Lot 77, had earlier made $260,000 when sold to leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher.

The son of Savabeel is out of the O’Reilly mare Bride To Be, who is a sister to Chandelier.

A daughter of Super Seth was another to be the subject of spirited bidding before Lot 133 secured by Mitchell Bloodstock with Neasham.

The filly’s mother is the Savabeel mare Date Night, who was a winner and placed in the G2 Eight Carat Classic and Listed Taranaki Oaks Prelude.

The second dam is the dual Group 3 winner and G1 Captain Cook S. third Dating while the third dam Mandate was also successful at Listed level.

Super Seth’s handsome chestnut son, Lot 123, took the eye of Randwick trainer John O’Shea and agent Suman Hedge and they parted with $260,000 to land the well-bred colt.

He is a half-brother to multiple winners and stakes performers Snowdrop, Grand Bouquet and Grand De Flora with their dam the multiple Group 1 winner Daffodil.

Recent form has been added to the pedigree page by the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Mazzolino, successful in Saturday’s G3 Desert Gold S., and her sister, G2 Matriarch S. winner Atishu.

Ardrossan’s first crop of yearlings were also given a warm welcome by buyers with three sold on the opening day and a top price of $260,000 for a colt from Elsdon Park.

Lot 144 was purchased by Waikato Bloodstock and is out of a Sebring mare while Te Akau’s David Ellis went to $190,000 for Lot 111. His dam is the stakes-placed Sepoy mare Cortado.

Waikato Stud’s filly made $45,000 to the bid of Bryce and Michelle Newman, with Lot 160 who is from the Group 1 family of Legs, Tiptronic and Guyno.

Ardrossan’s three yearlings sold for $495,000 at an average of $165,000 and off a $6000 + GST
service fee showed outstanding returns for breeders.