From proven producers to exciting young sires on the rise, Waikato Stud’s 2026 roster offers breeders proven performance, emerging momentum and genuine depth across the board through Savabeel, his sire son Noverre, Ardrossan, Ocean Park, Banquo and the exciting new recruit in the unbeaten Group 1-winning juvenile, Return To Conquer.
“It’s a lineup we are incredibly proud of, and one we are proud to show clients. It also reflects the long-term thinking and tradition that has played such a big part in our success,” said general manager, Mike Rennie. “We know how hard it is to make a stallion and, even more so these days, to acquire one. This year has been big for Waikato Stud and our partners, with Coolmore purchasing Super Seth, and three generations of the Chittick family investing in Return To Conquer. At the end of the day though, we can’t do it without the support of our fellow breeders and current shareholders.”
Crowned New Zealand Champion Sire on 10 occasions and inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2025, Savabeel has made an extraordinary contribution to the Australasian industry. This year, his book will be set to private, with Waikato Stud and his loyal shareholders the only breeders with access to the breed-shaping influence.
“What more can you say about a stallion who has achieved so much?” said Rennie, who has been at Waikato Stud since 2018. “Sav still enjoys his work and he looks great. While he’s set at private, on the track he’s certainly not done yet. Belle Cheval was incredibly impressive in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes, and on Saturday in Australia, Essentric Nature recorded his 158th stakes winner. He’s closing in on Zabeel’s record of 166 stakes winners and we’re confident he’ll get there. That’ll be another good milestone to tick off for Sav.”
Mike Rennie played an integral role in the successful career of Super Seth and, alongside the Chittick family and WS team, will now help lay the foundations for the career of another exciting addition to Waikato Stud’s stallion roster in Return To Conquer.
“He’s an incredible horse to look at and many will remember him from Magics being a A$1.3 million yearling. He’s an unbeaten Group 1-winning son of Snitzel, who we know is working with the NZ broodmare band,” said Rennie. “All four of his starts were at stakes level and he’ll get a lot of mares from the Waikato broodmare band as well as shareholders. He’s phenomenal value when you consider his breeding, his looks and what he did on the racetrack.”
Return To Conquer will stand for $15,000 plus GST.
Ardrossan, the Group-winning son of Redoute’s Choice, looks poised to soar. Striking at an impressive 8% stakes winners to runners, Ardrossan’s momentum continued through the 2026 yearling sales, where his biggest crop to date made up to $450,000. Seventeen of his yearlings sold for six figures, while 60 per cent of his NZB Karaka yearlings was secured by international buyers.
Among those to invest in Ardrossan yearlings were Bjorn Baker, Ciaron Maher, Cliff Brown, Matt Laurie, Sheamus Mills, the Shailer Racing team, loyal local supporters Wexford Stables and ready-to-run consignor Ohukia Lodge to name but a few.
“Ardy’s a sire we believe is going to kick some serious goals in the coming seasons. What he’s been able to achieve so far has been from a lower profile of mare, which is phenomenal. The last three seasons that quality has increased a significant amount, and we saw that in the sales ring this year,” explained Rennie. “They’re tough, Hong Kong love them, he’s had 12 runners for eight winners, the ready-to-run consigners honed in on them at the yearling sales this year. It was trainers versus ready-to-run consignors bidding against each other most of the time.”
Ardrossan has already produced two stakes performers from his current two-year-old crop in De Armas and Butler Cabin from just two runners to date, and he will stand this season for $20,000 plus GST.
Ocean Park has had a watershed season producing 78 individual winners for 10 stakes horses, including two Group 1 horses. The five-time Group 1 winner, a Champion in both Australia and New Zealand during his racing career, is underpinned by consistency throughout his career as a racehorse and now as a sire, Ocean Park has produced 1038 race wins from 379 winners, across distances that range from 1200m to 3200m. He has sired five individual Group 1 winners, with 26 black-type winners in total.
“He’s always got a good, tough horse, and Ohope Wins is a great example of that this season,” Rennie said. “As is Autumn Glory, who placed in the Gr.1 NZ Derby and Oaks. They’re good trainers’ horses because they enjoy their work, they’re tough and they train on. Look at Kovalica who is six-years old and raced 37 times, he’s still contesting those black-type races, he’s amassed A$4,390,250 prizemoney over in Australia for Chris Waller, who bought two of his five yearlings at Karaka with John O’Shea and Tom Charlton and Ballymore being the others.”
Ocean Park was renowned for his remarkable toughness and enduring soundness; qualities which he has undoubtedly passed to his progeny and will stand for $15,000 plus GST.
Noverre’s eldest are two-year-olds, but it is the three-year-old season Waikato Stud believes we will start to see his progeny make their mark. At the 2026 yearling sales, trainers continued to have confidence in the Group 1-winning son with Moody Racing going to $200,000, other trainers included Lindsay Park, Grahame Begg and Wexford.
“It wouldn’t surprise us to see them step out as spring three-year-olds and really make a mark,” said Rennie. “Reports from trainers are they’re straightforward and will benefit from a bit of time, and it was good to see trainers securing the Noverres again at the yearling sales.”
Noverre will stand for $10,000 plus GST this season.
At just nine-years old, Banquo is a stallion who is having to prove himself the hard way. From seven runners he has produced three winners, including the Group 3-winning two-year-old Justin Case who, from four starts, has won twice, placed and ran fourth in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes. Banquo hails from a strong Australian sprinting family, being a full brother to Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate winner Booker. A good-looking son of Written Tycoon, he was a A$600,000 Magic Millions yearling who produces good-looking stock.
“Banquo’s progeny are showing us real promise, headlined by Justin Case who has risen through the grades quickly and will make an exciting three-year-old,” said Rennie. “Current three-year-olds Portland and Mr Bombasa, who won on Monday, look to be workmen-like too. The feedback we are getting from people like Jamie Beatson of Ohukia and Kris Shailer is that they love them.”
Banquo will stand for an increased fee of $5,000 plus GST.
2026 Waikato Stud stallion fees:
Savabeel Private
Ardrossan $20,000 plus GST, LFG
NEW Return To Conquer $15,000 plus GST, LFG
Ocean Park $15,000 plus GST, LFG
Noverre $10,000 plus GST, LFG
Banquo $5,000 plus GST, LFG
