It’s been an interesting weekend for reigning champion New Zealand sire Savabeel with a new stakes-winner, an immediate success as a sire of sires for his G1-winning son Embellish and a return to form for his heavy-hitter Mo’Unga.
Secured as a stallion prospect by Newhaven Park Stud last season, Mo’Unga (NZ) surged into Cox Plate contention with an outstanding second in the Group I MRC Underwood Stakes and looks on track to go even better than last year when he was fourth to Irish raider State of Rest (IRE).
Newhaven Park already have a Group I winning Savabeel stallion on their roster in Cool Aza Beel (NZ), whose first foals are arriving this spring, while another of his Group I-winning sons Embellish has started his career for Cambridge Stud in the best way possible.
The first runner for Embellish, a filly called Luberon, returned a winner at Ruakaka on Saturday and her trainer Lance Noble has a high opinion of her and you can read more here.
The success of Luberon will no doubt spark interest in the seven colts and geldings by Embellish entered for the NZB Ready to Run Sale on November 16 and 17 and they include his highest priced yearling that will be offered as Lot 297.
Consigned by Ohukia Lodge, the colt made $80,000 at Karaka Book 1 and is from Red Ransom (USA) mare Tanqueray. He is a half-brother to Group I ATC Australian Oaks place-getter Gin Martini and stakes-placed Nothin’ on Me.
Group I placed at two and three, progressive four year-old Savabeel gelding I Wish I Win (NZ) won the Listed MRC Testa Rossa Stakes (1300m) at Sandown on Sunday with Peter Moody now aiming high towards the Group I MRC Toorak Handicap on October 8, read more here.
He is the 126th stakes-winner for Savabeel and is the 17th bred from a daughter of Pins, a nick that has had outstanding success producing four Group I winners headed by the mighty mare Probabeel.
There are three entries in the NZB Ready to Run Sale by Savabeel from mares carrying the Pins blood.
Lot 65 from Ohukia Lodge for Waikato Stud is a colt from the Pins mare Daisy Chain, a daughter of triple Group I-winning Champion 3YO Daffodil. The colt is a full brother to two winners and is closely related to the Chris Waller trained Group III-winning mare Atishu.
Lot 239 from Ohukia Lodge is a filly from unraced Rehab, whose dam Prickle is a stakes-placed daughter of Pins. She comes with a big pedigree being a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group I winner Brambles, Group III winner Lincoln Blue and stakes-winner Lopov, all three by Savabeel.
Lot 296 is another colt from Ohukia Lodge for Waikato Stud and is the first foal from unraced Sacred Falls mare Taller, a half-sister to dual Group I winner Tiptronic from the good Pins producer Tiptoes.
Click here to see the full NZB Ready to Run catalogue to be held on November 16 and 17.