Kermadec Brother to Star for Wentwood Grange

Media Release - Friday January 17

The Hawkins family’s Wentwood Grange has become a renowned source of quality thoroughbred talent, and their draft for the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale has the credentials to continue that trend.

Dean (left) and Sean Hawkins of Wentwood Grange. - image Trish DunnellGraduates of Wentwood Grange’s yearling drafts at Karaka include this season’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) hero Kolding, along with fellow Group One winners Sacred Elixir, Kermadec and Gust of Wind.

Little Bridge, who was sold for just $9,000 as a weanling, won the Gr.1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot in 2012, making Wentwood Grange the first New Zealand breeders to have bred a Royal Ascot winner.

Valley Girl and Miss Raggedy Ann, who were both offered as yearlings at Karaka but passed in, later scored Group One victories in the Hawkins family’s racing colours.

Wentwood Grange will offer 35 yearlings at Karaka 2020, all in the Book 1 session. A notable feature of the draft is the diverse range of sires from either side of the Tasman.

“The wide range of stallions is certainly a key feature of our draft and something we’re very proud of,” Wentwood Grange co-owner Dean Hawkins said.

“We’re very fortunate to have a wide client base and the access to such a great selection of sires.”

Stallions featuring in the draft include proven stars such as Savabeel, Iffraaj, Teofilo, Dundeel, Tavistock, Per Incanto, Darci Brahma, Pierro and Pins, along with a host of up-and-comers.

Lot 658 is a full brother to multiple G1 winner KermadecOne yearling who is sure to attract plenty of attention is Lot 658, by Teofilo out of Hy Fuji – a full-brother to the Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) and George Main Stakes (1600m) winner Kermadec.

“This colt is from the last Australian crop of Teofilo, and he’s a colt we’re very excited to be selling,” Hawkins said. “He’s a very nice-moving colt and there’s a lot to like about him.

“It’s also great to offer yearlings from our Group One-winning mares Miss Raggedy Ann (Lot 108) and Valley Girl (Lot 379). We’re very proud to have those sorts of mares in our broodmare band and sell their offspring.

“The Valley Girl yearling is a filly by Savabeel, and she’s just absolutely lovely. She’s a striking dark-coloured filly, just like her mum and just like her grandmother (Group Three winner Leigh Valley). She really catches the eye and is very athletic.”

Other notable members of the draft include the progeny of stakes performers Ms Seneca Rock (Lot 119), Savanah Rush (Lot 257), Amazing Lady (Lot 426), Bel Sorriso (Lot 459), Choice (Lot 504) and Hannah Mary (Lot 637), with many others who are closely related to quality racetrack and stud performers.

“Across the board, I think it’s just a good-quality draft in general,” Hawkins said. “It’s hard to identify just one that stands out.

“There’s some great depth among the dams, with a number of Group performers. The Iffraaj colt out of Choice is a lovely, big strong colt, and the Savabeel out of Amazing Lady is another particularly nice yearling.

“We’ve been quite taken with the first crop of Vadamos and are very excited to be selling some of his yearlings – they’re really good-looking types. His colt out of Bel Sorriso is another lovely type.

“We believe we’re offering something for everyone. We have some sprinting types and some staying types, a number who will run early and some who will develop into very nice three-year-olds. It’s a really varied draft.”

There could be a notable pedigree update on the eve of the sale, with Lot 524 being a colt by Toronado out of the Savabeel mare Crazy Life – a three-quarter-sister to Group One winner Diademe, who is the dam of the Australian-trained Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) contender Conqueror. NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2YOs at Flemington - G3 Maribyrnong Plate Sale Mail
Juvenile racing will kick off Melbourne Cup day on Tuesday with an early start at 10.45am for the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) with nine colts and four fillies engaged.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.