Rebuilding broodmare bands at Karaka 2022
Everything was normal at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. Covid-19 was a term, as yet, unheard of.
However, last year, and with the prevailing spread of Covid-19, there was no international contingent at Karaka. The industry was at sixes and sevens, and everyone was wondering exactly how things might pan out. Confidence was not high.
The uncertainty created a strange phenomenon prior to the 2021 sale, with stud masters acting like buyers, visiting their fellow vendors and viewing their compatriots’ drafts.
The question had to be asked. What was going on?
After posing that question to three or four stud masters the answer was clear: they were looking for fillies from strong families and, with less competition from overseas buyers, the opportunity to strengthen future bloodlines was not to be passed up.
To their credit, however, those stud masters who saw an investment opportunity were perhaps ahead of their time. New Zealand’s broodmare ranks are diminishing at an alarming rate and the foal crop numbers are half what they were 30 years ago.
This year might be the year for local breeders and studs to look ahead, which reminds the writer of a framed caricature that was prominent on the office wall belonging to former Wrightson Bloodstock general manager, Michael Floyd.
The caricature depicted an old, wizened up, grey-haired man, stooped and leaning on a walking cane. The caption read: “This is the young man who is still waiting for quality broodmare prices to come down.”
Frantic mare buying in Australia last year, plus the amazing results so far this selling season, would suggest that waiting is not an option. If the industry is to thrive and survive, filly and broodmare strength is a major factor in providing a foundation for our future.
From the writer’s weekly Kiwi Chronicles column, readers will have picked up on the common reference to strong female families and New Zealand has a wonderful history of such families.
Here, we look at the continuing legacy of some of New Zealand’s most influential broodmare, and the presence of their descendants in this week’s New Zealand Bloodstock sale at Karaka.
Eulogy
More than 100 years have passed since George Currie, of Koatanui Stud near Wanganui, imported Eulogy (Cicero). She was simply an add-on to the purchase of the stallion Absurd (Sundridge), whose price was less than he had budgeted.
Twelve generations down the road and Eulogy is responsible for more than 600 individual stakes winners, approximately 120 of which have enjoyed Group 1 (or equivalent) success.
Her enormous influence resulted in her being inducted as an inaugural member of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. Descendants Bonecrusher (Pag-Asa) and Show Gate (Gate Keeper) would join her.
Branches are far and wide, led by daughters Pennon (Coriander), Homage (Absurd), Eulalie (Absurd) and Praise (Limond).
This century, Eulogy has been represented by the outstanding Dundeel (High Chaparral) and Gingernuts (Iffraaj), not forgetting world travellers Highland Reel (Galileo), Elvstroem (Danehill) and slashing sprint star Starspangledbanner (Choisir).
Hong Kong champions Beauty Generation (Road To Rock), Sacred Kingdom (Encosta De Lago) and Ambitious Dragon (Pins) are all descendants, as is Singapore champion Stepitup (Hussonet).
Five fillies from various Eulogy branches are on offer in Book 1 next week. All – lots 210, 289, 453, 525 and 576 – would be welcome at any stud.
Lot 525, from Haunui Farm, is a Pride Of Dubai (Street Cry) filly from a winning half-sister to Starspangledbanner, apparently the fastest horse Aidan O’Brien ever trained.
Phoenix Park will offer Lot 576, a So You Think (High Chaparral) filly from a winning Exceed And Excel (Danehill) mare who is, herself, a half-sister to recent Group 3 winner Showbeel (Savabeel). Third dam, dual Group 1 winner Showella (Lord Ballina), produced three stakes winners. Showella’s dam, Show Queen (Balmerino) is the only daughter of Hall of Famer Show Gate.
Eight Carat
Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford, believes that her proudest contribution to the breeding industry is arranging the mating that produced Eight Carat (Pieces Of Eight).
In her glossy coffee-table book, a memorial to her beloved Tavistock (Montjeu), Henrietta details her first visit to New Zealand. She and her husband were invited to meet (Sir) Patrick, Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor) and Eight Carat during a tour of Cambridge Stud: “I’d never met Eight Carat but I was responsible for her creation,” said Henrietta.
“Keith Freeman and I bought Pieces Of Eight when he finished racing in the USA. We stood him at Newmarket at New England Stud. I persuaded Heather Sumner to send Klairessa to him and the result was Eight Carat,” continued Henrietta. “She changed hands several times before she got to Cambridge Stud but I have always thought that her existence is, perhaps, my proudest achievement in thoroughbred breeding.”
Eight Carat, like Eulogy, was also inducted into the NZ Racing Hall of Fame but arrived in the country almost 70 years after. Yet her impact in that comparatively short time has been simply extraordinary.
A three-time New Zealand Broodmare of the Year, Eight Carat produced five Group 1 winners, including the fabulous Octagonal (Zabeel). He landed ten Group 1s and at stud sired Lonhro, who went one better with 11.
Her Group 1 son Kaapstad (Sir Tristram) became a leading sire (46 stakes winners) and her Group 1 daughter Diamond Lover (Sticks And Stones) produced four stakes winners, two of them at the elite level.
Another daughter, Cotehele House (My Swanee) foaled five-times Group 1 winner Danewin (Danehill) plus his brother, top sire Commands (Danehill), the sire of 80 stakes winners.
Cotehele House deserves special mention at this point due to her being the third dam of current superstar Verry Elleegant (Zed). But that’s not the end of her story because Verry Elleegant’s sire Zed (Zabeel) can also claim Cotehele House as his third dam.
If you’re going to double up on outstanding bloodlines, 4×4 to Eight Carat is a great choice.
Eight Carat produced her first foal (Cotehele House) in 1980 and in just over 40 years is responsible for 62 stakes winners, an incredible 18 at the highest level. When you can find them, fillies from her family have always been in demand and next week’s Book 1 will see five lots – 29, 171, 206, 293, and 467 – go through the ring.
From Woburn Farm is Lot 171, a Savabeel (Zabeel) three-quarter sister to dual Group winner Queen Of Diamonds (Savabeel). Her grandam is a sister or half-sister to four stakes winners while her third dam is the equal top Australian Filly of her year, Tristalove (Sir Tristram).
If buyers miss out on Lot 171, Carlaw Park will offer Lot 206, bred on the same lines, and also a three-quarter sister to Queen Of Diamonds.
Lot 293, from Grangewilliam Stud, is the three-quarter sister to Verry Ellegant (Zed). Above are details of the double up (4×4) of Eight Carat in Verry Elleegant’s pedigree. Well, hold your horses, because this filly is bred 4x4x4 to Eight Carat because her dam, Hermione, is a daughter of Viking Ruler, whose third dam is also Eight Carat.
Verry Elleegant’s dam Opulence (Danroad) is the current New Zealand Broodmare of the Year and may well repeat that honor this season.
From the same branch of the family is Lot 467 being offered through the Phoenix Park draft. This filly is a Written Tycoon (Iglesia) three-quarter sister to Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Luna Rossa (Written Tycoon). Her grandam is a half-sister to Listen Here (Elusive Quality), the dam of Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) victor Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) and his brother, leading sire Deep Field.
Georgina Belle
Perhaps the hottest family right now is one that Kiwi Chronicles highlighted recently, after the sudden retirement of Probabeel (Savabeel).
Waikato Stud rarely sells fillies from the Georgina Belle (Pakistan II) family. Their foundation mare was returned to New Zealand after being exported to the USA where she foaled two winners before being purchased by Garry Chittick.
Chittick brought Georgina Belle and her English-born foal Habania (Habat) “back home” in 1978 and, as they say, the rest is history.
In a little over 40 years, Georgina Belle is responsible for 36 stakes winners including six at Group 1 level. This season alone the line has produced six stakes winners, namely Probabeel, Never Been Kissed (Tivaci), Forgot You (Savabeel), Bellaconte (Burgundy), Treasured Star (Toronado) and Espiona (Extreme Choice).
Lots 135 and 249 incorporate all the right blood from this great distaff line. Lot 135 is by Tivaci (High Chaparral), from a sister to Group 2 winner Acting (Savabeel). As a bonus, this Tivaci-Savabeel cross is the same as 2021 Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Never Been Kissed.
The dam of Lot 135 is also a three-quarter sister to Forgot You, a dual Group 2 winner this season. She descends from Georgina Belle’s first New Zealand-born foal, Celia Leigh (Sound Reason).
Lot 249 also descends from Celia Leigh. This filly’s third dam and Lot 135’s fourth dam are sisters. Highline Thoroughbreds will offer this opportunity, a Sacred Falls (O’Reilly) daughter of a winning half-sister to Western Australian stakes winner Pin Rouge (Pins).
Gay Poss
Trained by Bart Cummings, Gay Poss (Le Filou) was leased to Australian owners and carved out a superb 11-win career which included wins in the Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 12f) as well as the Caulfield Stakes (Gr 1, 10f) at weight-for-age. She was a high class mare from a family often referred to as the “Rose” family.
Since Gay Poss was retired to stud, she has taken the family to new heights. In particular, her daughter My Tricia (Hermes) produced five stakes winners including Grosvenor (Sir Tristram). He was not only a high-class three-year-old with wins in the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and the Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m), but he also became one of New Zealand’s best sires.
Gay Poss produced her first live foal in 1973 and since then, she and her daughters are responsible 45 stakes winners including 11 at the elite Group 1 level.
Similar to the three families already discussed, fillies descending from Gay Poss are highly desirable and three are on offer in Book 1.
Ardsley Stud will offer Lot 128, a Russian Revolution (Snitzel) filly from a winning half-sister to Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Tavago (Tavistock).
Very closely related to Lot 128 is Carlaw Park’s Lot 626, an Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) filly from a sister to Tavago. Both share Sara Ann (Stravinsky) as their grandam, she being a daughter of the Group 2-placed Tricia Ann (Zabeel). Tricia Ann is a sister to Lankan Rupee’s grandam and a three-quarter sister to Grosvenor.
Soliloquy
After a top class race career which included the Lion Brown Sprint (Gr 1, 1400m),
Soliloquy (Sobig) would go on to become an even better producer, headed by New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Solveig (Imposing).
There have been a remarkable nine Group 1 winners descend from Soliloquy and they comprise a formidable list, including Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Fiveandahalfstar (Hotel Grand), 2017 AJC Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Jon Snow (Iffraaj), Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winners Cross Swords (Grosvenor) and Gallic (Zabeel), plus 2015 New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Savaria (Savabeel).
Since Soliloquy’s first foal in 1978, not including herself, she is responsible for 57 black-type performers made up of nine Group 1 winners, five Group 2 winners, six Group 3 winners, 14 Listed winners and 23 stakes-placed winners.
It seems that every season another stakes horse represents this wonderful family. The numbers don’t lie and two fillies from this line will be offered next week.
Rich Hill stud will offer Lot 230, a Vadamos (Monsun) half-sister to Wellington Cup (Gr 3, 3200m) winner Soleseifei (Shocking). Her dam is a half-sister to Gallic (see above) and her third dam is Solveig, also referenced above.
Haunui Farm has Lot 514 on behalf of Soliloquy’s breeder, Richard Moore, and his appropriately-named Soliloquy Lodge. The filly by Iffraaj (Zafonic) is from a half-sister to the dam of current stakes winners Pierina (Savabeel) and Showemup (Showcasing). The next dam, stakes winner Quibble (Ruling), is a half-sister to the abovementioned Solveig.
Fillies from this family are not easy to find, plus this one represents the last New Zealand crop of Haunui Farm’s stalwart sire Iffraaj.
Foxona
Mention of Haunui Farm is the perfect segway to Foxona (Foxbridge), their foundation mare purchased as a weanling directly from Seaton Otway of Trelawney Stud in 1951 for the princely sum of £60, the receipt for which the Chitty family has preserved.
Sixty-eight stakes horses, of which 44 are stakes winners, descend from Foxona but the two fillies from the family in Book 1 are not being offered by Haunui Farm. Instead, Lot 325, a Zoustar (Northern Meteor) filly from the Group-placed winner Irion (Danroad), is being offered by Pencarrow Stud.
Her page includes 16 stakes winners and is the granddaughter of Group 2 winner Dopff (Tights), a prolific breeder. As a bonus, the filly’s dam Irion is by Danroad (Danehill) who is also the damsire of superstar Verry Elleegant (Zed).
Lot 511, from Woburn Farm, is from the same branch of the family and is by Almanzor from the Listed winner and Group 1 placed Pussy O’Reilly (O’Reilly), a granddaughter of Dopff (see above).
Richebourg
Another segway presents itself via Pencarrow Stud’s foundation mare Richebourg (Vice Regal), whose granddaughter is the great staying mare, four-time Group 1 winner Ethereal (Rhythm). She bagged a rare Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) double.
Later in Richebourg’s stud career (1996) she produced Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel), with Darci Brahma (Danehill) being Grand Echezeaux’s first foal, born in 2002, while Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), her fifth, came along in 2008. From seven to race, she produced five winners, four of which earned black-type with Darci Brahma the standout.
Two fillies from this line will be offered next week. One is Lot 217 from Blandford Lodge’s draft. A Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) filly from dual Group 3 winner Eleonora (Makfi), a granddaughter of Ethereal. Expect this filly to be very popular as she is highly commercial.
The other filly is being offered by Pencarrow themselves. Lot 596 is similarly highly desirable being an I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) half-sister to Eleonora (above). Don’t be at all surprised if this filly isn’t one of the top five lots of Book 1. She has the sire and the pedigree, combined with the fact that buyers will enjoy great future residual value from a rare opportunity to buy into this family.
The Kurd
Three New Zealand Broodmares of the Year descend from The Kurd (Kurdistan), the family established and maintained by the Dennis Brothers.
The first was The Pixie, a Southland Guineas (Listed, 8f) winner, and an outstanding producer. She had just four foals for three stakes winners: The Twinkle (Gate Keeper), The Dimple (Nobe Bijou) and The Fantasy (Gate Keeper) who between them accumulated a remarkable 49 wins including 24 stakes wins.
From humble beginnings, a total of 32 stakes winners, eight of them achieving success at the highest level, descend from The Kurd.
Only one filly from this family is available this year. Lot 354, from the Phoenix Park draft, is a So You Think (High Chaparral) three-quarter sister to La Diosa. She is yet another investment opportunity from one of the country’s great families.
What the vendors say
Adrian Stanley, Woburn Farm
The Kiwis are performing so I am optimistic about the sale for the industry and positive about our own draft. The feedback has been very good and especially the middle market horses. That gives me confidence heading into the sale. We had some very good sales results in Australia recently and I am hopeful that will spill over to next week.
John Thompson, Rich Hill Stud
At this time it slightly unnerving with the lack of industry people around but having said that, the parades have been good. We are excited about Ace High’s first crop plus Shocking has the favourite for the Oaks. All our sires are firing.
Mark Chitty, Haunui Farm
I am feeling slightly apprehensive but it is only early and once hits on x-ray reports are available, we will have a better idea of what to expect. The feedback from some respected industry people has been positive. We have a very nice draft and several really nice fillies.
Russell Warwick, Westbury Stud
I am really happy with our draft and the extra six weeks has been hugely beneficial to the horses. The sale is our one shot to showcase our yearlings and all our draft have improved markedly with the extra time. It is one of our better drafts and those Kiwi buyers who are keen to buy Australian bloodlines can find them at Westbury. It would be nice to have the Aussies here in person as that always enhances the sale.
Mark Chittick, Waikato Stud
A strange sale due to it being closed to the public which means the atmosphere is quite different. The sale is normally a social event, a gathering place.It’s an important event on our calendar but without the crowds, it is just a horse sale. Also, with no Karaka Millions racings, there is no buzz about the place. As for the sale itself, ask me on Wednesday morning.
Brent Taylor, Trelawney Stud
It’s an exciting time to be in this industry and pleasing to see trainers, agents and our lime-time clients doing such a great job of getting around to look at our New Zealand produce. As always, nice horses will sell well. It’s a strong fillies catalogue this year.
Sam Williams, Little Avondale
It is disappointing that the Aussies can’t be here again in person this year. It makes a big difference to be able to eye-ball our established buyers. Per Incanto is finally getting the recognition he deserves from Australia and this crop is as good as any. Kiwi breds are knocking them dead in Australia and our runners have terrific longevity. Justacanta, winning at Group level as an eight-year-old is a great example. They are racehorses.
Rodney Schick, Windsor Park
Given the border conditions, which are less than ideal, I think the demand for the NZ product will hold up well. Certainly, the Kiwi breds are doing their job throughout Australia and Asia. Our Turn Me Loose is chiming in at the right time. He has sired six winners in the last nine days. The crop for sale is from his strongest book of mares too.