Since about the middle of November, black type, as it affects sires and pedigree pages, can not be included in New Zealand Bloodstock’s published hard copy of the catalogue for the Karaka Yearling Sale. The lag-time between the catalogue’s release and the sale itself becomes the domain of updates and this past Saturday, the update machine kicked into overdrive.
Not that he needs the exposure, but Waikato Stud’s living legend Savabeel (Zabeel) sired his 146th individual stakes winner when Jedibeel (Savabeel) dived through very late after an excruciating wait for a run to land the Razor Sharp Handicap (Listed, 1200m), his seventh career success in 17 starts. Five of his wins have taken place at Warwick Farm, Kensington, Canterbury, Rosehill and now Randwick itself. He also has six second placings and one third placing, failing to earn a placing just three times.
The win takes the five-year-old’s prize-money earnings to $527,150, a massive return on the $35,000 he fetched out of the 2020 NZB Gavelhouse Plus National Weanling Sale. He is the fifth winner from Starry (O’Reilly) and yet another bred on the statistically amazing Savabeel/O’Reilly cross, running at 14 per cent stakes winners to runners.
His brother is Starrybeel (Savabeel), a six-time winner who was successful at Ellerslie and ran second in the Wellington Cup (Gr 3, 3200m), as well as third in the Waikato Cup (Gr 3, 2400m). Jedibeel’s dam is a half-sister to Listed stakes winner Delta Girl (General Nediym) but the family is dominated by two recent Group 1 winners.
Jedibeel is very closely related to $12 million earner and champion sprinter I Wish I in (Savabeel). Jedibeel’s granddam and I Wish I Win’s dam are half-sisters. The Oaks Stud will offer a Noverre (Savabeel) three-quarter sister to Jedibeel as Lot 329 in Book 1 of next month’s NZB Karaka Yearling Sale. Another Savabeel Group 1 winner which appears under the third dam is Livamol Classic (Gr 1, 2040m) winner Savvy Yong Blonk. Savabeel has 47 lots on offer next month and unsurprisingly, all are in Book 1.
Tarzino
On the same card, Westbury Stud’s Tarzino (Tavistock) was represented by Kadavar, from champion trainer Chris Waller’s stable. The four-year-old notched his sixth win in 13 starts when he landed the Christmas Cup (Listed, 2400m) and Saturday’s triumph was his third 2400-metre victory in succession following wins at Rosehill and Caulfield last month.
Kadavar showed immense determination. The leader into the straight was Alalcance (Mastercraftsman) and the two of them were well clear at the 200 metres. Inch by inch Kadavar clawed his way alongside and then stuck his head in front in the last two strides in a stonking finish.
Guy Mulcaster secured Kadavar from Book of the 2022 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, outlaying $300,000 for the Westbury Stud offering. The $109,000 winner’s share of the prize-money took his earnings to $351,525.
Kadavar is the third stakes winner, and seventh scorer, from VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) heroine Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer). Her 2016 foal, Miami Bound (Reliable Man) also scored the VRC Oaks, plus the Wakeful Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) and Moonee Valley Gold Cup (Gr 2, 2500m), three of her five wins, banking more than $1.8 million. Her third stakes scorer is Andrew Ramsden Stakes (Listed, 3200m) winner De Little Engine (Encosta De Lago). She throws stayers.
Arapaho Miss foaled a filly by Tarzino in 2023 but she is not catalogued for sale at Karaka, however, next month Tarzino will be represented by 42 lots, nine of which are in Book 1.
Ardrossan
Waikato Stud’s Ardrossan (Redoute’s Choice) stepped back into the limelight when his Beau Dazzler added to his Listed win as a two-year-old when scoring an easy victory in Saturday’s Grand Prix Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) at Eagle Farm.
The colt was giving the leader a healthy start with 600 metres to run but rounding into the straight was in a good position to launch. He was not making a huge impression at the 300 metres but inside the 200 metres he lengthened stride, and over the final 100 metres ran clear.
Purchased by Paul Moroney, Catheryne Bruggeman and Sears Racing for $85,000 out of Book 2 at the 2023 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale. Beau Dazzler’s prize-money earnings now stand at $377,900. He is the second winner (both are by Ardrossan) from Pwerfect (Pentire). Elsdon Park will offer a brother as Lot 228 in Book 1 of NZB’s Karaka Yearling Sale. Book 1 features 13 by Ardrossan and a further 20 are in Book 2.
Proisir
Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were caught off guard with the 1400-metre sprint win by Kelly Coe (Proisir) in Saturday’s Group 3 J Swap Sprint at Te Rapa. Their reaction is understandable given that just over a year earlier Kelly Coe was successful over the longer 2040 metres of the Wanganui Cup (Listed). Earlier in her career Kelly Coe had recorded a second in the Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m) and a third in the Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr 2, 2000m). Middle distance seemed to be her forte.
The sprint was her second start this preparation so she may well have had freshness on her side, racing handier than usual and lodging her challenge from the 150 metres before slugging it out to the line to win narrowly. Her trainers have some experience with re-thinking a preparation and going shorter, as they did with another of Proisir’s stock, namely Waitak. He had been tried over ground and was fifth in the New Zealand Derby yet the following season was successful in the Railway Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
Now a seven-year-old mare, the same age as Via Sistena (Fastnet Rock), Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), Kelly Coe has won seven times with prize-money earnings of $293,000.
She is the last foal of the Listed placed Floridita (Fasliyev), a mare bought for $3,500 at the 2017 NZB May Broodmare Sale, carrying Kelly Coe, a very canny purchase by the O’Learys of Ladies Man (Zed) fame. Saving the best for last, Kelly Coe is one of four winners from Floridita who was overdue in producing a good one as she is very well related. Her dam Rose Pompador (Indian Ridge) is a half-sister to the dam of Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) winner Dr Devious (Ahonoora).
Proisir (Choisir) is represented by 63 lots next month and as a sign of the stallion’s standing within the industry, 53 qualified for Book 1.
Shamexpress
It’s been quite a week for Windsor Park Stud’s Shamexpress (O’Reilly). Last week the buzz was all about the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) success by his Ka Ying Rising who took his impressive record to nine wins in 11 starts and is regarded as one of the premier sprinters in the world.
Stakes winner number 14 for Shamexpress is Blue Sky At Night, who landed Saturday’s Waikato Cup (Gr 3, 2400m), her sixth success. Making her move from the 600 metres, she peeled out five deep into the straight, levelled up to the leaders at the 200 metres, briefly went clear, then held on desperately by 0.2 lengths. The seven-year-old mare arrived at Te Rapa as a narrow last-start winner and, judging by her starting odds, was not expected to rise to open company, let alone stakes class.
Owned and bred by Messrs A & I Barker, Blue Sky At Night was not offered for sale. The Barkers also bred Blue Sky At Night’s dam, After Midnight (Viking Ruler), a half-sister to New Zealand Oaks second Overkaast (Kaapstad). They also bred her granddam, Daytime (Heroicity) and have been involved with this family since 1994 when they took over breeding from Va Bene (Sovereign Ruler). That year Va Bene foaled New Zealand Cup (Gr 2, 3200m) winner Soldier Blue (Sir Sian), one of his eight wins.
Blue Sky At Night’s sire Shamexpress is suddenly making some noise and will be represented by six lots next month, one in Book 1 and the other five in Book 2.
Snazzy
Saturday’s Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) winner Snazzytavi (Tavistock) is primed for a super summer. A short break after she collected her maiden Group 1 at Te Rapa in October, the mare was again dominant despite the race being run at slow clip early. Once wound up she was far too good and it is going to take something special to get in her way.
There are no more by Tavistock (Montjeu) but there is a close relative to Snazzytavi up for sale at Karaka next month, offered as Lot 361. The filly, part of the Waikato Stud draft, is by Ocean Park (Thorn Park), from Genius (Savabeel), whose dam and Snazzytavi’s dam are half-sisters. Snazzytavi is from a Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare and the filly for sale is doubly-bred 3×3 to Zabeel.
Australian sires too
Represented by three lots is Churchill (Galileo) whose Robusto took out the rich Ingham (Gr 2, 1600m) at Randwick. Also at Randwick, Lucky Vega (Lope De Vega) sired the unbeaten Within The Law to land the Inglis Nursery (RL, 1200m). Lucky Vega has one lot for sale next month. At Eagle Farm, sire of the moment Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) sired his 19th individual stakes winner when Superalloy snared the Gold Edition Plate (Listed, 1200m). Too Darn Hot has nine lots on offer at Karaka.
Kiwi Chronicles will return in 2025 but in the meantime wishes you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
