Brent
Gillovic's persistence has been rewarded with a deal to bring a unique son of
High Chaparral to stand at Highview Stud in 2017.
He has long been an admirer of the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Wrote
and he recently completed a deal to stand him alongside current resident
Bullbars.
"He's the only Group One-winning two-year-old son of High Chaparral in the
world," Gillovic said.
"I was first alerted to the horse by an American agent and when I went to the
US Masters Golf at Augusta in 2015 and I went down to Florida to see him.
"I liked what I saw, he's very much in the image of his sire – a powerful,
correct horse and I had hoped to purchase him, but he is owned by a group who
had bought him as part of a package of horses to race and they aren't
interested in selling him.
"I couldn't get the horse out of my mind and last year I made more inquires.
Now, I've managed to acquire him as a shuttle stallion and I couldn't be more
excited."
The Irish-bred won three of his nine starts for Aidan O'Brien and apart from
his Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf win he was also placed at Group Two level in
the Newmarket Royal Lodge Stakes, UAE Derby at Meydan and in the Derrinstown
Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown in Ireland.
"He was subsequently retired a sound horse and went to stud," Gillovic said.
"He's got two-year-olds getting ready in Florida now. I saw his first five
foals in 2015 and they were very nice individuals that were held in high
regard."
High Chaparral is well known to New Zealand breeders, having crossed famously
well with Kiwi mares, to produce horses the ilk of So You Think, It's A
Dundeel, Shoot Out, Descarado and Monaco Consul.
Wrote's dam Desert Classic (Green Desert) hails from one of the best stallion
families in the world. Her third dam is Special, the mother of Nureyev and
grand-dam of Sadler's Wells and Fairy King. It is also the family of Stravinksy,
who enjoyed success in New Zealand.
Wrote is currently in quarantine in Kentucky and following a further period of
quarantine when he arrives in New Zealand in mid-June he will take up residence
at Highview in July.
"We're going to stand Wrote at $5000 + GST and he represents a marvellous
opportunity at that fee," said Gillovic.
"I think there are finally a lot more encouraging signs in the industry and
hopefully more people will be returning to breeding.
"There is a shortage of horses coming through the system and so there has never
been a better time to breed.
"We have approximately 50 resident mares at Highview and a large proportion of
those will visit Wrote in his first season." – NZ Racing Desk.