Photo: Supplied
Waikato Stud have announced the 2025 service fees for their six-strong stallion roster, which is once again headlined by Champion Sire and New Zealand Hall of Fame inductee-in-waiting Savabeel.
He will stand alongside Super Seth, Ardrossan, Ocean Park, Noverre, and Banquo.
“It’s a lineup we are continually proud of, and it continues to fit with tradition which has, and does, lead to success,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick said.
“They are stallions that we have put the time and the investment into because we believe they suit our expansive broodmare band, which continually produces top-class racehorses including three Group One winners this season bred by Waikato Stud, including La Dorada (Super Seth), Savaglee (Savabeel) and Atishu (Savabeel).
“Stallions with the credentials that we require are not easy to come by – we are very, very appreciative of the support of current shareholders and breeders.
“Each stallion is sourced primarily for our 200-plus broodmare band, but in this day and age we couldn’t do it on our own and we thoroughly appreciate the incredible support that we are given by Australasian breeders.
“We enjoy the success together, Super Seth is a good example of Waikato Sud and our major shareholders sharing in that success.”
Stud pillar Savabeel continues to go from strength-to-strength and looks set to secure his 10th New Zealand Champion Sires’ title and will be inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame next month.
This season alone, Savabeel has sired three Group One winner, and he continues to strike at a phenomenal 11.1 percent stakes winners to runners and 7.3 percent Group winners to runners.
This year, Savabeel produced his highest-priced yearling yet and set a new record for the highest-priced filly ever sold at Karaka, when the full-sister to multiple Group One winner Orchestral was knocked down for $2.4 million. Savabeel will stand at an unchanged fee of $100,000 + GST.
“He deserves every accolade, and we are very proud of everything he’s done and is doing for the New Zealand industry,” Chittick said.
“He has great vitality and we’re heading into the season with a bright, happy and healthy horse – the only thing we will avoid breeding this year at his age is maidens. He’s had another incredible season on the track and in the sales ring, and he just keeps reminding us why he’s so special.”
Promising stallion Super Seth looks to be Savabeel’s heir apparent. He leads the New Zealand Second Season Sires’ Premiership as the only stallion in his cohort so far this season to surpass the million-dollar mark in progeny earnings, and sits in fifth position on the Australian Second Season Sires’ Premiership, with A$3.2 million in earnings achieved by half the number of runners to those above him.
In the sales ring, his ready-to-run horses made up to A$550,000, and $420,000 on home shores, while his yearlings have sold for as much as $700,000.
With limited outside nominations available, bookings by application will close at 5pm (NZT) on Wednesday, 4 June – click here to nominate. With Group One winners from both his first and second crops, Super Seth has earned a fee increase to $75,000 plus GST.
“An unbelievable stallion. I don’t feel as though we have had a stallion start like this in New Zealand for a long time,” Chittick said. “Three Group One winners across two countries in a month is freakish, and he keeps backing up with Trans-Tasman winners every single week.”
Ardrossan has already proven his ability to upgrade his mares and produce winners, and with bigger and better-quality books in the pipeline, this season’s matings are set to benefit from both strength in numbers and quality.
Ardrossan’s fertility last season was 90.14 percent, and from his earlier, smaller books, he has produced an impressive 9 percent stakes winners to runners, including Yaldi, Ardalio, Beau Dazzler, Saltcoats, Codigo and Loch Katrine.
Ardrossan will stand at an unchanged fee of $20,000 + GST.
“He’s had to do it the hard way and prove himself. He’s consistently producing good winners off his smaller books,” Chittick said.
“Ardalio recording her second Group win on Saturday (Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes, 1200m) is a good example, and now his bigger crops are starting to come through.
“To achieve 9 percent stakes winners to runners from very low numbers and average pedigrees is quite incredible. He’s certainly an upgrading sire, and people have to understand and be reminded that his numbers don’t increase until the foals of the 2024 crop.
“I’m adamant that as these numbers and quality do rise, he will be a formidable sire. He’s a very safe stallion who can leave good types that become very good racehorses out of any type of mare.”
A proven Group One producer in both New Zealand and Australia, five-time Group One-winning Champion Ocean Park is renowned for his remarkable toughness and soundness, qualities he continues to pass on to his progeny.
Ocean Park will stand at a slightly reduced fee of $15,000 + GST.
“He always has a good horse – they’re good, tough racehorses,” Chittick said. “He’s getting into the latter part of his career now and he’s a very good, safe, proven horse.”
Noverre’s first yearlings entered the sales ring in 2025 and he averaged A$350,000 at Magic Millions, with a top price of A$500,000, and at Karaka his first crop averaged $135,625, with a top price of $310,000. Noverre will stand at an unchanged fee of $10,000 + GST.
“He’s such a good-looking horse and he passes that onto his yearlings,” Chittick said. “He throws a great type and he was well-supported by trainers and agents here in New Zealand and over in Australia this year.
“Breeders, none more so than ourselves, have been incredibly impressed with what he’s left. His books have increased year-on-year, and last season he served the biggest book of any sire in New Zealand.
“Off the back of the types he’s leaving, the quality of mares he’s had and his phenomenal first yearlings at the sales, he’s got an unbelievable opportunity at stud.”
Waikato Stud’s stallion roster is rounded out by Banquo, a full-brother to Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) winner Booker. A good-looking son of Written Tycoon, he was a A$600,000 Magic Millions yearling.
Banquo retired to stud on the eve of the 2021 New Zealand breeding season, subsequently having limited opportunities in his debut season. However, his first runner, Portland, produced a strong fourth on debut for Stephen Marsh, with trainers commenting positively on their potential as racehorses. Banquo will stand at an unchanged fee of $3,000 + GST.
“Starting at stud at an awkward time of the year meant his opportunities were limited,” Chittick said. “Comments from trainers and owners with Banquo’s progeny in work are very, very encouraging.”
