Rare stallion prospect Mo’unga storms into Newhaven Park
Son of Savabeel to stand at $27,500 in his first season at the Kellys stud
Mo’unga, the first multiple Group 1-winning son of New Zealand’s eight-time champion sire Savabeel (Zabeel) to retire to stud, will join the Newhaven Park stallion ranks in 2024.
The Winx Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) winner stand alongside another son of Savabeel in Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Cool Aza Beel, and Xtravagant (Pentire) at the Kellys’ Boorowa stud.
A son of the stakes-placed O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) mare Chandelier, a Savabeel cross that runs at 14 per cent stakes winners to runners, Mo’unga will stand for a fee of $27,500 (all fees inc GST).
Cool Aza Beel, whose first crop yearlings have sold up to $280,000 at the Magic Millions in January and $160,000 at the Inglis Classic sale, remains at an unchanged $16,500, while Xtravagant has had his fee reduced to $16,500, having stood the 2023 season for a fee of $22,000.
Initially trained by Chris Waller, who won a two-year-old race and two races as an early three-year-old including the Dulcify (Listed, 1500m) with the colt, Mo’unga was transferred to Annabel Neasham who trained him to finish runner-up in a Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m), following up that performance with his victory in the Rosehill Guineas.
She also trained him to win the Winx Stakes as well as finish runner-up in a Makybe Diva Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m), third in a Mackinnon Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) having finished fourth in the 2021 Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) the start before.
Mo’unga was also placed in another Makybe Diva Stakes, an Underwood Stakes (Gr 1, 1800m), a Mackinnon Stakes won by stablemate Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux), a Chipping Norton (Gr 1, 1600m), a Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) and the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m), beaten on both occasions by European import Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai).
Newhaven Park principal John Kelly was excited about the prospect of retiring a horse of Mo’unga’s calibre to stud.
“His race record really showcases his soundness and durability – a winner on debut at two, a Group 1 winner at three, but also placing a further 12 times at Group 1 level – that’s testament to his toughness and a trait that he will surely pass onto his progeny,” Kelly said.
“He’s also a beautiful specimen, fetching NZ$325,000 as a yearling, his physique certainly matches up to his racing credentials.
“We’re very keen on New Zealand bloodlines here and we hope that his pedigree also offers a lot of options for Australian breeders.”
Mo’unga’s partners include Ultra Racing’s Sean Buckley, Aristia Park’s John Guscic, Bowness Stud, Harbour Racing, Redbank North and Tony Fung Investments after equity in the stallion was sold by TFI in April 2022.
Barnmate Xtravagant, with his largest crop of 89 weanlings on the ground in seven years at stud, is the sire of five stakes winners including Group 2 scorer Lavish Girl, Group 3 winner Arts, Devoted and Xtravagant Star.
“We continue to be thrilled with the support he is receiving at stud from breeders, and he has consistently held a strong book of mares since his retirement,” Kelly said.
“As his pedigree would suggest, Xtravagant’s progeny are maturing types so we really believe the best is still ahead of us.”
Cool Aza Beel, who has 83 yearlings and weanlings on the ground, covered another 99 mares in 2023.
“It has been fantastic to see the support for Cool Aza Beel in his first three seasons at Newhaven Park and that has been backed up by his popularity at the sales,” the studmaster said.
“His first yearlings are in the hands of a number of Australia’s top conditioners including Ciaron Maher, Peter Moody and Danny O’Brien – so it’s exciting to see what the future holds.”