Every breeder or buyer’s aim is usually focused on finding the next Group 1 winner.
A small percentage of the races run annually are contested at Group 1 level, and likewise it is only a small percentage of stallions who can produce multiple Group 1 winners during their time at stud.
When it comes to the results achieved, and developing an appreciation of which stallions do ‘cut the mustard’, the Westbury Stud line-up can ‘stand up and be counted’. Among the 80-plus stallions standing at stud in New Zealand in 2023, just ten can lay claim to having produced 2 or more Group 1 winners in their careers, and 4 of these 10 are included on the Westbury Stud roster in 2023.
Tarzino will head up the Westbury roster at $25,000 + GST after making a wonderful start to his stud career when producing both a Derby winning 3YO in Jungle Magnate and an Oaks winning filly in Gypsy Goddess from his first crop, a rare feat in anyone’s language.
Alongside his Group 1 performers Tarzino has the black type performers Tarex, Foreign Raider, Mountain Guest and Bitcoin as horses heading for good company, while Bitcoin is scheduled to run in the SA Derby Gr.1 after winning his Australian debut by a wide margin for Lindsay Smith.
Such was the demand for Tarzino in 2022 that he covered the largest number of mares (197) by any stallion in New Zealand and his progeny have sold exceptionally well over the past 12 months, averaging more than A$225,000 at Magic Millions and up to $260,000 at Karaka with leading buyers such has Chris Waller, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Annabel Neasham, Mick Price, Jamie Richards, Freedman Racing, Paul Moroney, Roger James, Phill Cataldo, David Vandyke, Mitchell Bloodstock, Archie Alexander, Graeme Rogerson & Wexford Stables all taking yearlings home by the son of Tavistock.
Fastnet Rock’s son El Roca will have an increase in service fee this season to $15,000 + GST after producing his second individual Group 1 winner this season with the Te Akau Racing filly Romancing the Moon running out a dominant winner of the Levin Classic at Trentham back in March and joins Travelling Light, Bella Mente, and Mali Ston as Group 1 performers for the stallion.
El Roca was also represented by the ATR Easter Handicap Gr.3 winner White Noise recently and the stallion has had a further five black type performers during the season including 3YO filly Rocababy, a winner at Listed level, Norwegian Bliss, Lucky Patch, Oldtown Road, and Miss Rockette, while the talented Wewillrock was very impressive scoring at Hawkes Bay last week.
El Roca has produced 60% winners-to-runners and his progeny have an average earnings per runner of more than $69,000 which reflects favourably on his fee.
Another of the Westbury based stallions who boasts impressive figures is Reliable Man who will stand for $13,500 + GST in 2023.
The multiple Group 1 winning son of Dalakhani has produced 3 individual Group 1 winners in his own right as a sire including VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound, NZ Oaks winner Sentimental Miss, and the quality mare Inspirational Girl, who sold for $1.1million at the Inglis Chairman's Sale last week.
Also Queensland Oaks favourite Renaissance Woman, a dominant winner of the Listed BRC Bracelet at the Sunshine Coast.
Other stars include Annavisto, Benaud, Belle du Nord, Hypnos, Reliable Team, De La Terre, Renaissance Woman, Kinane, Main Stage, Wannabe ‘n’ Paris, Sully, Aalaalune, The Cunning Fox, Lord Ardmore, The Buffer makes impressive reading for the ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Gr.1 winner.
Reliable Man has crossed very well with the southern hemisphere bloodlines and aside form his large number of winners, he has 10 Group 1 performers ‘down under’ to his name, and for a stallion truly entrenched in the “proven” category of stallion he represents excellent value for breeders.
Like El Roca, Reliable Man also has a 60% winners-to-runners ratio and his average earnings per runner sits at $70,273 – an excellent return for his $13,500 + GST service fee.
At a fee of $10,000 + GST in 2023, Redwood must be the best value-for-money of any stallion standing in New Zealand this year. The son of High Chaparral has had a remarkable year led by the three-time Group 1 winner Sharp ‘n’ Smart who won the ATC Spring Champion Stakes and Gloaming Stakes in the spring in addition an unlucky second in the VRC Derby.
Sharp ‘n’ Smart resumed in January with a brave second in the Thorndon Mile Gr.1 before adding the Herbie Dyke Stakes Gr.1 against the older horses and a resounding victory in the NZ Derby against his own age group and is a serious contender for end of season honours as NZ Horse of the Year.
Redwood also produced Platinum Invador to take out the ATR Auckland Cup Gr.2 after returning from a tendon injury, Tuchel who was narrowly beaten in the Hong Kong Derby Gr.1, Malaysian stakes winner Black Thorn and the Australian black type performers Pink Ivory and Tokorangi.
Add to these horses the quality Antino who has won 6 from 7 for Tony Gollan in Brisbane, the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace trained gelding St Lawrence - the winner of 4 from 5 - and the impressive two-year-old Solidify, Redwood has indeed had a stellar year.
The results of Sharp ‘n’ Smart, Platinum Invador and others this season adds to already impressive record for Redwood, as his list of stakes winners continues to grow alongside the likes of Rock on Wood, Tokorangi, Night’s Watch. Communique, Bellatrix Black and Romancer as some of his better performers.
Redwood’s overall statistics reveal that he is striking at 58% winners-to-runners and his progeny boasting an average earnings per runner of $77,870.
The “elder statesman” of the stallion line-up is Swiss Ace who remains at a fee of $5,000 + GST and is as reliable a stallion you could wish for with 331 winners (68%) to his name and an average earnings per runner of $64,177.
The sire of Group 1 winner Julius and stakes winners Swissta, Secret Spirit, Little Giant, Passing Shot, Miss Federer, First Serve, Speedy Meady, Mywayorthehighway, Mr Malek, Top Prospect, Huka Eagle, Sergio, East Asia, Ichiban and January - Swiss Ace continues to perform at a high level and is a great option for breeders wishing to race or sell the progeny.
The Oakleigh Plate winner has developed a wonderful reputation in Asia with stakes winners in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Macau to go along with a weekly presence in New Zealand and Australia, and again this season he has produced two new stakes performing 3YO’s in January and Master Brutus and the speedy performers Savonoski, Fantastic Way, Fonteyn, The Hottie, Good Luck Friend, Cloudland, Rheinberg, etc.
While Swiss Ace yearlings have sold to $145, 000 over the past year, there is also a very good market for his tried horses to Asia and Australia making the son of Secret Savings a low-risk option for breeders.
With his daughters now established as broodmares, Swiss Ace has quickly gained momentum in this role and is recognised as the broodmare sire of Sharp ‘n’ Smart Gr.1, Swiss Exile Gr.2, Stormy Gr.2, Aitch Two Oh Gr.3, Grand Impact Gr.3 and the stakes placed pair of Illuminaire and Betty Spaghetti – from just 61 runners.
A new stallion to the line-up this season is the Group 1 performing sprinter Ferrando who will have his first two-year-olds out in 2023.
The Group 3 winner (and twice Group 1 placed) sprinter was a very fast horse winning 4 of his first 6 races including the Group 3 Mr Tiz Trophy at Ellerslie and was twice placed in the WRC Telegraph Handicap Gr.1 – the second of these when beaten by the barest of margins to Enzo’s Lad after it took three photos to determine the winner.
By the very good sprinter Fast ‘n’ Famous, Ferrando is a grandson of Redoute’s Choice and was a particularly fast sprinter, recording 1.07.73 for the 1200m when winning the Listed WRC Lightning Handicap over Heroic Valour, and posting 1:06.96 when finishing second in the Telegraph Handicap.
Ferrando is the first foal of the Captain Rio mare Rio Nugget and is from the family of Samantha Miss, Miss Fabulass, Campania, Communique, Ibidem, Carriere etc.
Captain Rio was a quality English sprinter by Pivotal winning the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at two and is the sire of Champion 2YO Il Quello Veloce, Group 1 winning sprinter Terravista, VRC Oaks winner Brazilian Pulse, Riomoral, Lady Royale, Whosyourmaster, Art Beat, Alegrio, Amberio, etc.
Ferrando was trained throughout his career by Graeme & Debbie Rogerson and has covered 142 mares to date and was represented by some nice yearlings in January. Ferrando will stand for $5,000 + GST in 2023.
