Photo: Trish Dunell
A stellar mix of representatives by Waikato Stud’s proven stallions and their exciting younger residents has the champion vendor ready for the defence of their Book 1 aggregate title at Karaka 2025.
As usual, the premier farm will present top-shelf offerings by the remarkable Savabeel and the hugely successful Ocean Park at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale while also offering quality selections by their up-and-coming associate sires.
Super Seth has made an impressive start to his career, as has Ardrossan from humbler beginnings, while the first crop of Savabeel’s Group One-winning son Noverre have also been warmly welcomed.
“We obviously have a great representation by our proven and champion sires Savabeel and Ocean Park,” Mark Chittick said.
“It’s also such an exciting time with the new wave of stallions coming through like Super Seth and the success he’s had at this early stage.”
Among Super Seth’s leading performers to date are the farm’s Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) winner Sethito while across the Tasman, Linebacker won the Gr.3 Baillieu Stakes (1400m) and ran second in the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m).
“The reputation he’s gathering in Australia is very positive and we know how to breed the best types by him now after a couple of seasons into it,” Chittick said.
The progeny of Ardrossan is headed up by Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) winner Yaldi while Beau Dazzler won the Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes (1800m).
“The success and figures that he’s working at is impressive,” Chittick said.
“With his first crop at 10 percent stakes winners to foals is just overwhelming, considering he’s coming off such an incredibly low base with numbers and quality of mares.
“He has always left quality horses, no matter what sort of mare he gets, and Noverre has probably made one of the most encouraging starts with a stallion we’ve had on type.
“He is leaving top quality foals, which was obviously very evident at the Magic Millions Sale.”
The farm sold three daughters of Noverre at the Gold Coast for A$1,050,000 with a top price of A$500,000 for a filly out of the stakes winning Pins mare Shopaholic, who was sold to Michael Freedman and Michael Wallace.
Multiple champion Savabeel is strongly represented as always and Chittick had a pair of favourites.
“The colt (Lot 337) out of Suavito is an outstanding type and very strong on pedigree and the Savabeel out of Etiquette (Lot 587) is another great type,” Chittick said.
The former is a half-brother to Sethito while the latter is a brother to the dual Group Three winner Milford with their dam a sister to the farm’s late four-time Group One winner and successful sire Sacred Falls.
“And then there’s Ocean Park, he’s always got a good horse and his best books are coming through now,” Chittick said.
“He’s left horses the like of Tofane, Kolding and many, many more. He’s just a very successful stallion.”
After decades of selling, Waikato Stud’s preparation and presentation at Karaka works with military precision.
“We’ve been taking large drafts to Karaka for some time now and it obviously needs to run as efficiently and professionally as possible,” Chittick said.
“As I always say to my staff, it takes two years to get to this week and basically, we’ve got four minutes to do the best job we can to show these horses the best we can.
“That’s two minutes pre-sale and the two minutes they have in the ring.
“I believe that in the two years it takes to get these horses to this stage that we have not left any stone unturned, and it’s a draft we’re very proud of and of the successes we’ve had.”
