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A whirlwind two weeks has passed since the last edition of Kiwi Chronicles and it is pleasing to report that the New Zealand bloodstock industry appears to be on the cusp of bigger and better things.
Central to the industry’s future is prize–money which in New Zealand is unlikely to rival that of Australia’s in the near term, however it was not so long ago that the minimum on offer (for maidens) was $7,000. The minimum jumped to $10,000 and is now $18,500 with many clubs opting to set a base of $25,000. The huge turnaround has taken place since Entain’s welcome involvement.
The new NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot race has added a new and different level of enthusiasm. The upping of prize–money across the board (especially for stakes races) saw Chris Waller send Konasana (Dundeel) to race in and win the $600,000 Westbury Classic (Gr 2, 1400m) on Karaka Millions night. That trend continues this week with Here To Shock (Shocking), Bosustow (Blue Point) and Numerian (Holy Roman Emperor) lining up at Te Rapa for Legends Day, creating great interest as well as improving the quality of our fields.
Congratulations are due to Auckland Thoroughbred Racing and their successful staging of the Karaka Millions series, immediately prior to the 99th National Yearling Sales series. Ellerslie was humming. Parking in the infield was far busier this year than in 2024. The squally weather held off until the last two races but the quality of the racing and several exciting finishes had the crowd on their feet.
Seeing Orchestral (Savabeel) back in form was great to watch as well as a relief to her connections, no doubt. Racing handier than usual, she had her work cut out to find a path to the line but upon reaching clear air showed the same resolution we witnessed last year when she won five on the trot as a three-year-old. Stretching out late, she will be looking for 2000 metres now. In running a fine second, Mary Shan (Almanzor) has put together several high–class placings. Surely she will be rewarded soon.
And talking of seconds, only the bob of a head denied the Lunn family a big win from Imprevu (Wrote). The look on part-owner David Lunn’s face in the unsaddling enclosure told the story and the result could so easily have gone the other way. When hobby breeders can compete with champion trainer Chris Waller and major-league owner Debbie Kepitis it gives every breeder hope.
Another to return to the winner’s circle was Crocetti (Zacinto). Last season he was defeated just once and that was at Group 1 level against the older horses. His first–up run at four in the heavy at Ruakaka probably affected his subsequent form but to have him back amongst our premier sprinters can only be good for the industry. We need our stars to shine.
Sire-wise, the night belonged to Waikato Stud. Living legend Savabeel (Zabeel) claimed two of the biggest prizes with Orchestral in the Aotearoa Classic (Listed, 1600m) then Damask Rose taking out the $1.5 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (RL, 1600m). Damask Rose was bred by Milan Park’s Tony Rider and the stud race her older sister, Provence (Savabeel), winner of the Thorndon Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) earlier in January. Capping a great night, Waikato Stud’s Super Seth (Dundeel) sired the winner of the Karaka Million 2YO (RL, 1200m), La Dorada.
From an ownership standpoint, Te Akau Racing and David Ellis scored the Millions double with La Dorada and Damask Rose. La Dorada marked the eighth 2YO Millions win for Te Akau in the last nine years to make the race their own. In 2020 Te Akau achieved the same double with Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) and Probabeel (Savabeel).
Onward and upward
Upcoming is Champions Day scheduled for March 8 at Ellerslie. In addition to the NZB Kiwi slot race, four Group 1 races will act as an autumn finale never previously seen in this country. Such a boom day has proved enormously successful at Flemington on day four of their Melbourne Cup carnival. New Zealand’s turn to hog the spotlight slots in nicely with the Sydney Championships set for April.
At Karaka for the 99th National Yearling Sale series New Zealand buyers reacted accordingly, outlaying more than $32 million for purchases out of Book 1. Prior to the sale Kiwi Chronicles spoke with one of the leading buyers, Albert Bosma of Go Racing Syndications, who said: “Entain and the improved stakes have had a major influence on our operation. Previously, we bought horses to race in Australia simply because of the level of stakes on offer there. Now, we can buy them to race in New Zealand. I hope trainers can see that and be here and buy a few. We are upping our numbers thanks to these new measures.”
Te Akau’s David Ellis, the dominant buyer of the last two decades, echoed Bosma in saying: “I hate to think where we might be without Entain’s involvement but we are also fortunate that we have a receptive government and a racing minister who understands the racing and breeding industries. Put all that together and the future looks very exciting.”
Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick commented: “Owners, breeders and trainers have been through some awkward times over the last 20 or 30 years but the higher stakes, and the new slot race, all point to a future with enormous potential. The next generation has a very bright road to look down so they need to grab it with both hands and start running.”
“Added to that, what comes out of New Zealand is top class. Look at Chris Waller, James McDonald and our horses. Who would have thought that we can produce world class sprinters. The foundation is there and we need to make the most of the opportunities.”
Post sale, New Zealand Bloodstock’s Andrew Seabrook could hardly have been more pleased, saying: “We said if we could get close to the incredible result of 2024, we’d be thrilled, and we are down just 5 per cent, so we could not be happier. We’ve been talking about how strong the international buying bench was here this week, but our domestic bench was outstanding.”
“We have seen a reduction compared with last year’s which I think can be directly attributed to the state of the economy. It’s not at all reflective of the positivity that’s in the racing industry at the moment and the great vibe that’s been around all week.”
That’s a wrap
A couple of Kiwi Chronicles’ pre-sale predictions came a little unstuck. The Frankel (Galileo) colt was passed in but at a figure which could only suggest that he did not match buyers’ expectations. Waikato Stud’s run as the leading vendor by aggregate was thwarted by their own stallion, Savabeel, whose $2.4 million daughter and sister to Orchestral, was sold through Haunui Farm, the 2025 NZB National Yearling Sale’s leading vendor.
The last time Haunui Farm led the vendor’s aggregate was in 1980. In the meantime, Cambridge Stud led that statistic for 32 years straight. Waikato Stud finished second by aggregate this time around and have ten such titles in the last 12 years.
Savabeel headed the aggregate among the sires ($10.05 million) but less than half–a–million behind was a strong challenge from Rich Hill Stud’s Proisir (Choisir) whose $233,000 average was based on a $17,500 service fee. However, Waikato Stud’s Ardrossan (Redoute’s Choice) returned an average of $116,864 from a service fee of just $6,000. Rich Hill Stud’s Satono Aladdin (Deep Impact) chimed in with an average of $170,690. His fee in 2022 was $12,500.
Among the first–season sires, Cambridge Stud’s Sword Of State (Snitzel) followed up on his super Gold Coast sale result averaging $201,500. His 2022 service fee was $15,000 and his stock sold up to $540,000. Waikato Stud’s Noverre (Savabeel) stood at $10,000 and his yearlings sold up to $310,000, averaging $135,625.
Fresh from their Karaka Millions double, Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis racked up his 17th title as leading buyer, securing 26 Book 1 lots for $4.5 million. His sole purchase from Book 2 was the $260,000 sale topper, a Satono Aladdin sister to 2025 Eclipse Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Too Sweet. Unusually, Ellis found what he was looking for without spending more than $400,000 on any particular lot, with 20 lots fetching more than his biggest outlay. Lots that sold for $500,000 or higher totalled 13.
Derby bound?
Of the four stakes races run in New Zealand on Saturday, perhaps the most significant was the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1800m) run at New Plymouth. The winner, Hinekaha, kept her sire Savabeel in the headlines on top of a winning double on Karaka Millions night and another at Trentham on January 11. Hinekaha became individual stakes winner number 150 for the ageless wonder.
Just two years ago Savabeel reached 130 to tie his grandsire Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor) and the next target of 166, which Zabeel (Sir Tristram) himself achieved, is looking within reach.
Apart from the $2.4 million filly (a record for a filly), the 2025 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale was fairly low-key for Savabeel. He had one other sale among the top ten yet achieved an average of $297,143 selling 35 lots versus nine lots by Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj), the leader by average. Such consistency in demand is recognition of his standing while newer and younger sires are shouting: “What about me?” Meanwhile, Savabeel keeps racking up stakes winner after stakes winner.
Hinekaha’s main goal is the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) but she is still in the market for the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) so has options. Saturday’s win was her second from four starts. At starts two and three she ran into a topliner and NZB Kiwi slotholder Checkmate (Mongolian Khan) for a second and a third. Hinekaha has class and that was evident when she quickened late to put the Oaks Prelude away.
She is the only foal of Hinerangi (Fastnet Rock) to race, the latter a Listed winner of the Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m). Hinerangi’s grandam Hinemoa (Elusive City) was a Listed winner on both sides of the Tasman and Hinemoa’s half-sister, Lady Annaliese (Groom Dancer) won twice at Listed level in California after finishing third in the New Zealand Oaks. Their half-sister Taitanium (Kingdom Bay) produced Wellington Cup (Gr 2, 3200m) winner Graphic (Volksraad). The next dam Titania (Grosvenor) was an only foal.
This is Chris Grace’s family, through and through, beginning with the purchase of Clearness (Without Fear) from Colin Hayes in 1979. Grace lost Hakawai (Le Filou), a stakes-winning half-sister to champion Tatua (Sajakeda) he bought at Trentham as a yearling. Sadly, she died at three in 1965 but Grace bought back into the family. Clearness is from a three-quarter blood sister to Hakawai.
