Waikato Stud on top of the selling world

31 January 2016

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.”

Back to Savabeel news

Oaks Day glory for Waikato Stud-bred Sulek

Waikato Stud enjoyed a special moment on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, when the New Zealand-bred gelding Sulek – by Super Seth out the O’Reilly mare Tiff And Co, saluted on one of the biggest days of the racing calendar and in front of an international crowd. Bred by the farm in partnership with the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Sulek took out the A$500,000 Cirka Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) for the third and most lucrative win of his career.

5 November 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.