Waikato Stud on top of the selling world

Savabeel

Savabeel was the dominant force at Karaka through the two-day Premier Sale. Zabeel’s outstanding son grossed $11,545,000, more than 20 percent of the auction aggregate.
The Cox Plate winner provided the second and third-equal highest prices of the sale with Lot 301 purchased for $775,000 by Ultra Thoroughbreds, the same price outlaid by David Ellis for Lot 200.
WS, the home of Savabeel, were the leading vendor by aggregate for the third consecutive year, selling 45 horses for $8,257,500. The top price of $775,000 achieved for Lot 200 was a record price for Waikato Stud.
“We came here with a lovely draft and there was a great buying bench present, they really accepted the Savabeels along with the first crops of Ocean Park and the Rock ’n’ Pops,” Mark Chittick.
“We had 50 horses in the Premier Sale and to get through with the result that we did, we’re extremely happy.”

 

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