In 2005, Waikato Stud created history when it became the first New Zealand operation to breed a Group 1 winner in Europe, that honour going to Starcraft (NZ) (Soviet Star {USA}) who was successful in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp and in the Queen Elizabeth S. at Newmarket.
The chestnut’s dam Flying Floozie (NZ) (Pompeii Court {USA}) lifted the New Zealand Broodmare of the Year title three times, joining Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {GB}) and Songline (NZ) (Western Symphony {USA}) as the only others to achieve that feat.
Starcraft drew further world-wide racing and breeding attention to Waikato Stud and that focus has continued to intensify over the years with champion stallions continually producing champion racehorses.
Team work, business ethics and attention to detail, combined with long working hours, has planted the seed for another widely applauded and much enjoyed part of the farm.
Mates Gully
“This is our life and producing the best racehorses we can is everything to us,” Mark Chittick said.
“We all love it and we’re very proud of our achievements. We like getting people and the community involved and love them being able to enjoy in our success.
“This is our life and producing the best racehorses we can is everything to us.” – Mark Chittick.
“This place is hard to get off and 14 or 15 years ago we created a little place on the farm to have some fun and it’s become internationally recognised.”
The famous 'Game Gully'
He was referring to Game Gully, a popular hospitality area of the farm created in style for wining and dining, and clay bird shooting. It’s a facility that is particularly enjoyed by trainers, agents and potential buyers in the lead up to New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales at Karaka.
“We had a lot of parades through December and they saw the stallions and obviously the yearlings and then we like to entertain them all,” Chittick said.
“We’ve done rides up the river in jet boats and the clay bird shooting of course.” – Mark Chittick.
“We’ve done rides up the river in jet boats and the clay bird shooting of course.”
Waikato Stud will be chasing its sixth consecutive leading vendor title at Karaka and will be presenting an 88-strong draft when the auction opens on Sunday afternoon.
Big numbers for Karaka
“We started with more than that, but there’s always natural attrition,” Chittick said.
The hard graft that goes on behind the scenes is the foundation to success in the ring.
“All the horses have settled in well and words I’ve used a lot are that there has been an awful lot of personal craft making gone into these horses,” Chittick said.
“For such big numbers there’s a lot, and I mean a lot of hard work and organisation gone into these two weeks.” – Mark Chittick.
“For such big numbers there’s a lot, and I mean a lot of hard work and organisation gone into these two weeks.
Waikato Stud yearling manager, Jaimee Gowler
“Much more so than in recent years and the amount of organisation needed is incredible and all that leads to everything falling into place and making things run as smoothly as they can.”
Champion stallion Savabeel is the dominant force among the Karaka draft, but he is well supported by associate sires Ocean Park (NZ) and Sacred Falls (NZ) in Book 1, along with the late Pins.
Exosphere, Night Of Thunder (IRE), Per Incanto (USA) and Rubick are the only outside stallions represented in the line-up.
“The biggest thing for us is that it’s very strong at the top end this year with us deciding to support our National Sale 100 per cent.” – Mark Chittick.
“The biggest thing for us is that it’s very strong at the top end this year with us deciding to support our National Sale 100 per cent,” Chittick said.
Supporting the National Sale
“That’s probably added another 10 to 15 horses to the top 30, they would usually have gone to Australia but they’re all here this year.”
With those sorts of numbers to deal with, Chittick couldn’t single out any major stand-outs.
“I’d hate the job of picking the leading ones out of our draft,” he said. “I’ll leave that to the best judges in the world – everyone sees horses in a different way.”
Chittick is also ultra-confident his consignment will suit all buying budgets.
“In recent years, we’ve sold Savvy Coup for NZ$65,000, Embellish for NZ$800,000 and Probabeel for NZ$380,000,” he said.
“We’ve got horses here for every level of the market. With the sires we stand there’s a high chance of buying a very successful racehorse.” – Mark Chittick.
“We’ve got horses here for every level of the market. With the sires we stand there’s a high chance of buying a very successful racehorse.”
Waikato Stud has been awarded the New Zealand Breeder of the Year on six occasions and over many years has averaged 12 stakes winners annually and from the first year has bred the winners of nearly 80 Group 1 races.
Stud patriarch Garry Chittick has twice been honoured with a Racing Excellence and Outstanding Contribution Award and is a member of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.
