Savabeel spearheads remarkable run

7 min read

The Chittick family and youthful vendor Jamie Beatson combined for a highly lucrative run of events at Karaka on Tuesday.

Waikato Stud and Cambridge’s Ohukia Lodge teamed up for four outstanding results and all sired by the Matamata farm’s multiple champion resident Savabeel.

His sons, Lots 84 and 127, topped the opening day of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale at NZ$500,000 apiece and then Lot 137 made NZ$440,000 while Lot 180 realised NZ$375,000.

“The first one was Gary’s, the second one was mine and the third was the kids.” – Mark Chittick.

“The first one was Gary’s, the second one was mine and the third was the kids,” stud principal Mark Chittick said referring to his children Charlotte, George, Harry and Charlie.

“It’s exceeded all our expectations, just fantastic.”

He was also quick to lavish praise on Beatson and his partner Chanel.

“They are good, old-fashioned horse people and they have turned the horses out in such wonderful order.” - Mark Chittick.

“They have done a wonderful job. They are good, old-fashioned horse people and they have turned the horses out in such wonderful order.”

The first of their Savabeels was purchased by Cambridge agent Stuart Hale, the second went to Magus Equine’s Willie Yeung and the third to David Ellis and will be raced by Te Akau with Aquis Farm and Waikato Stud will also remain involved. Victorian agent Cameron Cooke secured the fourth.

As he often does, Leung made his mark at Karaka when he pushed his buying boundaries for the son of Maxmara (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) from the family of the G1 Goodwood H., winner Centisle (NZ) (Centaine).

“He was bought for Peter Chu, of Hong Kong, who really likes Savabeel,” he said.

“We were determined to get him and he went over expectations.” – Willie Leung.

“We were determined to get him and he went over expectations. But he’s a lovely horse and we had to get him.”

Lot 127 Savabeel x Maxmara (NZ)

The colt also got the seal of approval from future trainer Manfred Man.

“He was Manfred’s pick. The horse will stay here for another 12 months and we’ll send him to Hong Kong next year.

“He looks like a miler, but we’re hoping he’ll stay a bit further and the dream would be the Hong Kong Derby.” – Willie Leung.

“He looks like a miler, but we’re hoping he’ll stay a bit further and the dream would be the Hong Kong Derby.”

“New Zealand breeze-up sales are the best choice for us, we love New Zealand horses,” Leung said.

A son of Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) will also be heading to Hong Kong after Yeung went to NZ$200,000 for Lot 67 from Prima Park.

“Holy Roman Emperor has done so well up there and this horse will have two preparations here and will go to Hong Kong next season,” Leung said.

Lot 67 Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) x Izajazzar

Another top result

Later in the day, Waikato Stud and Ohukia cashed in again with Savabeel when Cooke signed for Lot 180 at NZ$375,000.

Bred in partnership with Bloomsbury Stud, he is out of the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Pander (NZ), who is a half-sister to the two-time G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Precedence (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

The 2-year-old is a grandson of Kowtow (USA) (Shadeed {USA}), who is a half-sister to the dam of the Group 1 winner and producer Tavistock (NZ).

Lot 180 Savabeel x Pander (NZ)

Bold bidding lands Hale his dream colt

Stuart Hale’s dream became a reality at Karaka on Tuesday when he secured the joint sale-topper.

The Cambridge-based bloodstock agent went to NZ$500,000 for a Savabeel colt bred by Garry Chittick and prepared for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale by Jamie Beatson’s Ohukia Lodge.

Hale purchased Lot 84 for a Hong Kong-based owner he has enjoyed a long and successful association with.

“He’s the best horse in the sale with the best pedigree and he was jumping over my bed all night.” - Stuart Hale.

“He’s the best horse in the sale with the best pedigree and he was jumping over my bed all night,” he said.

Lot 84 Savabeel x Lady Chaparral

“I bought him for Mr Wong’s Regency Stable in Hong Kong. The minute I saw this horse come out of his box I knew this is the one. He is a special horse.

“Mr Wong trusts me 100 per cent to buy the best and he had the looks and vetted beautifully. He’s an exciting horse by Savabeel out of a stakes-winning High Chaparral mare, how can you go wrong?”

Bold bidding

Hale’s confidence was reflected in his sale ring tactics - with the action at NZ$425,000 he immediately trumped that by jumping to NZ$500,000 - “I’m quite an aggressive bidder,” he said.

Lot 84 going through the sales ring at Karaka

The colt’s dam Lady Chaparral (NZ) (High Chaparral {IRE}) won the G3 Tauranga S., and she is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Bramble Rose (NZ) (Shinko King {IRE}).

"He’s an exciting horse by Savabeel out of a stakes-winning High Chaparral mare, how can you go wrong?” - Stuart Hale

The 2-year-old’s grandmother Images (NZ) (Gleam Machine {USA}) is a half-sister to the G1 Air New Zealand S., winner The Filbert (NZ) (Souvran {GB}), who also placed in the G1 Cox Plate and the Japan Cup when it had Listed status.

“His breeze-up might not have been the best, but he was mismatched and they went a bit slow,” Hale said.

“He’s got the right attitude and he’s a real athlete.” – Stuart Hale.

“When the jockey let him go he won by four or five lengths. He’s got the right attitude and he’s a real athlete.”

Watch: Lot 84 breeze up

The colt will further his education in New Zealand before he heads to Hong Kong.

“He’s going to Brendon Hawtin’s place and he’ll stay here and have a trial,” Hale said. “I can’t say what trainer he’ll be going to up there at this stage, I’ll talk to Mr Wong about that.”

25-year association

Hale said he had been buying horses for Mr Wong in New Zealand for a quarter of a century.

“He said get me one as good as Regency Bobo so I wasn’t going to leave without this horse.”

Hale paid NZ$400,000 in 2015 for Regency Bo Bo (NZ) (Denman), who was offered by Little Avondale Stud. The 5-year-old has won five times so far from Danny Shum’s stable.

Stuart Hale

Lucrative turnaround

A son of Tavistock (NZ) provided Riversley Park with a tidy piece of pin-hooking business at Karaka on Tuesday.

He was purchased by respected Queensland bloodstock agent John Foote from Sam Beatson’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft for NZ$400,000.

The colt was originally bought from Curraghmore’s Book 1 yearling sale draft earlier this year for NZ$150,000.

He is out of the Written Tycoon mare Prestigious Miss, who was a winner and G3 placed in the Gold Trail S., and she is a half-sister to the G3 Manawatu Cup winner Cassini (Reset).

They are grand-daughters of the G1 Western Australian Oaks winner True Devotion (Beau Sovereign {NZ}).

Te Akau leads buying charge

Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis was the leading buyer during the opening session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale on Tuesday.

He purchased six lots for a total of NZ$1,052,500 with the highest price paid NZ$440,000 for a son of Savabeel.

At the end of Day 1, the turnover closed at NZ$11,980,500 for 115 horses sold, down on last year’s NZ$15,690,500 with the average settling at NZ$104,178, back of 2017’s record-breaking result of NZ$108,210.

The 2018 median was NZ$67,500, up on the NZ$65,000 of 12 months ago.

The clearance rate strengthened in the afternoon to 63 per cent, down from 75 per cent last year.

Kilgravin Lodge’s Eion Jones said the opening session had been patchy.

“There’s been nowhere near as many people here as there has been for the last few years, but we’re selling ours which is the main thing.”

Kilgravin’s top price on day one was NZ$175,000 for a son of Savabeel purchased by Te Akau chief David Ellis.

The colt is out of Marveen (Orientate {USA}), who won three times at Listed level and was a dual Group 2 placegetter.

It is also the family of the G1 Flight S., winner Danglissa (Danzero).