NZ SIRES 2023

by Renée Geelen

The future of New Zealand racing looks bright with a 30% increase in prizemoney announced for the upcoming season in 2023/24, and naturally this will flow through to the breeding industry who have persisted for many years by focusing on exports to Australia and Hong Kong. Combining with the exciting emergence of Proisir (Choisir) and another brilliant season where New Zealand bred horses won 21% of the Gr1 races in Australia, there is a good vibe coming from Aotearoa Waikato Stud’s multiple Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel) continues to produce incredible racehorses with 133 stakes winners and this season’s Gr1 winners I Wish I Win, Atishu, and Major Beel. His son Gr1 winner Noverre’s first foals are due in 2023. Banquo (Written Tycoon) will have his first yearlings at the next round of the sales, while the first crop of Super Seth (Dudeel) are rising two year-olds.

Among Waikato Stud’s proven horses Ardrossan (Redoute’s Choice) began his stud career with a flyer, siring three stakes winners in his first crop of two year-olds, while Tivaci (High Chaparral) has a Gr1 winner in Never Been Kissed. Ocean Park (Thorn Park) now has twenty stakes winners with Gr1 Queensland Derby winner Kovalica headling his three year-olds this season.

Westbury Stud have had a massive season with 11 stakes winners off their farm, and their six strong roster is led by Tarzino (Tavistock) who has two Gr1 winners in Australia from his first crop. Redwood (High Chaparral) now has 14 stakes winners led by this season’s multiple Gr1 winner Sharp ‘n’ Smart, while Reliable Man (Dalakhani) is Mr Reliable with 21 stakes winners and three year-old group winner Renaissance Woman in Australia this season. El Roca (Fastnet Rock) had another great season, siring Gr1 Levin Classic winner Romancing the Moon, and has sought after in Hong Kong. Swiss Ace (Secret Savings) continues to sire stakes winners every season including this year’s three year-old January, while newcomer Ferrando (Fast ‘n’ Famous) joins Westbury Stud off the back of some good yearling sales figures from his first small crop.

Rich Hill Stud will stand 2023/24 NZ Champion Sire Proisir (Choisir) who has left five Gr1 winners this season; Levante, Prowess, Legarto, Dark Destroyer, and Pier. Satono Aladdin (Deep Impact) had a massive season with his first crop turning three and led by dual Gr1 winner Pennyweka, while Tokyo Tycoon won the Gr3 Matamata Slipper Stakes and the Karaka Million, Grand Impact won the Gr3 Blue Sapphire Stakes in Melbourne, and Sacred Satono is a group winning three year-old. Proven sire Shocking (Street Cry) whose 21 stakes winners include ill-fated Gr1 winner I’m Thunderstruck, while Gr1 winning miler Vadamos (Monsun) sired Gr1 Arrowfield Stud Plate winner this spring and has six stakes winners with his oldest crop only four. Gr1 Victoria Derby winner Ace High (High Chaparral)’s first crop will be three in 2023/24. Windsor Park Stud will launch the stud career of Gr1 winner Profondo (Deep Impact) in 2023, while triple Gr1 winner Circus Maximus (Galileo) will have his first crop of yearlings at the sales in 2023/24. Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj) has had a strong season with four stakes winners from his current three year-old crop lead by Gr1 winner She’s Licketysplit, Gr2 Waikato Guineas winner Loosespender and group winner Wessex to take his total to seven stakes winners. Vanbrugh (Encosta de Lago) has been a bit of a smokey with three stakes winners from his first two small crops led by Gr1 winner Mustang Valley and three year-old Gr2 winner Wild Night and Listed winner Sheez Dominant. Shamexpress (O’Reilly) continues to do a good job with nine stakes winners including three year-old Gr2 winner Denby Road.

Cambridge Stud headlines their four stallions with Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) who has had a massive start to his stud career with 2022 Gr1 Victoria Derby winner Manzoice, Karaka Million winner Dynastic and group winning three yearold Cheval d’Or in his first NZ crop. Across both hemispheres, he has nine stakes winners. Classic winner Embellish (Savabeel) will have his first three year-olds in 2023/24, and he’s already had three stakes placed two year-olds who look ready to take a bigger step as they turn three.

Dual Gr1 winner Hello Youmzain (Kodiac) will have his first yearlings in the upcoming season, and his sire recently added Gr1 Prix Jean Prat winner Good Guess to his 87 stakes winners. Precocious Gr1 winning two year-old Sword of State (Snitzel) who trained on at three has his first foals due this spring.

Novara Park had a thrilling season in Hong Kong with Sweynesse (Lonhro) leaving triple Gr1 winner Lucky Sweynesse. Sweynesse now has six stakes winners from his first three crops and his three year-old Special Swey won the Gr3 BRC Rough Habit Plate recently. With only medium sized crops to date, Sweynesse should gain a big boost with his Hong Kong fan favourite Lucky Sweynesse. Staphanos (Deep Impact) defied his pedigree with a Gr1 winner in his first crop of two year-olds this season. Pignan won the Gr1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce while Tokyo Star proved it wasn’t a fluke with a strong fourth placing in the Gr3 SAJC Sires’ Produce. Dual Gr1 winner Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) relocates to Novara Park, and he has six stakes winners including this season’s Gr2 winner in Australia Roots and three year-old Listed winner Press Charges. The first yearlings for Gr1 placed stakes winner King of Comedy (Kingman) will be at the sales this upcoming season, and his sire Kingman became only the second European based stallion to leave an Australian Gr1 winner without shuttling to the southern hemisphere (the other being Frankel).

Grangewilliam Stud’s Gr1 sire Zed (Zabeel) has been an extraordinary success at stud for a horse who won a maiden race over a mile at three. With 17 stakes winners led by Australian Horse of the Year Verry Elleegant, he has also sired Gr1 winner Survived, champion jumper Zed Em and seven other Cups winners. From the family of Danewin, Commands, Deep Field, and Shooting to Win, Zed has a fantastic pedigree and is a successful sire himself. The Bold One (Fastnet Rock) has had a solid season with stakes placed winner Mary Louise and Bold Mac flying the flag. The Bold One is a son of Champion 3YO The Jewel, whose other foals include group winner The Diamond One, Listed winner The Precious One and stakes placed winner The Glitzy One (dam of Gr1 winner The Chosen One). Australian Gr2 winner Derryn (Hinchinbrook) began his stud career well with Listed two year-old winner Sophmaze, while his first crop also includes this season’s Gr1 Oaks placed winner Mischief Managed.

White Robe Lodge had a wonderful spring with Ghibellines (Shamardal) who sired Gr1 Turnbull Stakes winner Smokin’ Romans. An Australian group winner at two, Ghibellines now has six stakes winners. He is a half-brother to Gr1 winner Guelph and to the dam of Gr1 winner Bivouac. White Robe Lodge will present the first yearlings for Gr2 winner Ancient Spirit (Invincible Spirit) in the upcoming season. The Champion 3YO Miler in Germany and Italy is by Invincible Spirit whose other sire sons include I Am Invincible (96 stakes winners), Kingman (67), Lawman, Charm Spirit, Shalaa, and many others. One of three stakes winners for his dam, Ancient Spirit’s second dam is a Gr1 winner. Beautifully bred Raise the Flag (Sadler’s Wells) has eight stakes winners led by Gr1 Sydney Cup winner Etah James, while White Robe Lodge also stand Gallant Guru (Montjeu).

Brighthill Farm’s dual Gr1 winner and Champion Stayer Preferment (Zabeel) sired his first stakes winner this season when three yearold Dunwoody won the Listed St Leger Stakes at Caulfield, while Smirk is also an Australian stakes performer who ran third in the Gr2 The Roses and fourth in the Gr1 Queensland Oaks, and Tap Dancer is a stakes placed winner this season. By Champion Sire Zabeel from the family of Gr1 winner Ancient Song, Preferment is a full brother to group winner Rezoned, dam of Gr1 placed winner Southbank. The first crop of Gr2 winner and Gr1 placed Eminent (Frankel) are rising three year-olds and Eminent was a group winning three year-old himself who placed in the Gr1 Irish Champion Stakes at that age. Brighthill Farm also have Dalghar (Anabaa) available on request.

Mapperley Stud will welcome the first crop of globetrotting group winner Armory (Galileo) in 2023, and the form around him is amazing. A Gr2 winner at two, he ran second in the Gr1 Curragh National Stakes to Pinatubo. At three, he was a Gr3 winner in Ireland, then ran second in the Gr1 Cox Plate, and was third in the Gr1 Irish Champion Stakes to Magical and Ghaiyyath. At four, Armory was a Gr2 winner and third in the Gr1 Royal Ascot Prince of Wales Stakes to Love and Audarya. Dual Gr1 winner Contributer (High Chaparral) sired five stakes winners including Gr1 winner Lion’s Roar in his first crop and added two new stakes winners with his three year-olds this season in She’s a Con and Family Ties. Mapperley Stud also stand Gr1 placed winner Savile Row (Makfi) whose small first crop includes stakes placed winner Perfectly Suited, and dual Gr1 winner Puccini (Encosta de Lago) whose three yearold Full of Sincerity ran third in the Gr1 New Zealand Derby this season.

The Oaks Stud purchased U S Navy Flag (War Front) from Coolmore on the back of his strong first crop two year-olds this season, led by Listed winner Chantilly Lace and Gr1 placed winner Aprilia, and Gr1 placed To Catch A Thief.

U S Navy Flag also has two stakes winners in his first crop in Europe who’ve just turned three. His sire War Front has 112 stakes winners led by successful stallions Declaration of War, The Factor, and Summer Front. U S Navy Flag was a dual Gr1 winner at two and won the Gr1 July Cup against the older sprinters at three. The Chosen One (Savabeel) moves to The Oaks Stud for 2023 with his first foals due this spring.

A Gr1 winning miler by a Champion Sire, The Chosen One won seven races from three to six in Australia, and is from one of NZ’s strongest families. The Oaks Stud retired their successful sire Darci Brahma recently, and they also stand Roc de Cambes (Red Ransom).

Little Avondale Stud’s proven sire Per Incanto (Street Cry) has unfortunately suffered an injury and will only serve a reduced book this season, which is a terrible shame as he had a massive season with Australian Gr1 winners Roch ‘n’ Horse and Little Brose (Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes) and his record currently stands at 28 stakes winners with seven at Gr1 level. Gr2 winner and Gr1 placed Time Test (Dubawi) had a good start with his first NZ crop turning three and led by Listed winner Leedox, while in the Northern Hemisphere, he had four stakes winners in his first crop and recent two yearold Gr2 winner Crypto Force. This season’s two year-old The Years was a winner and ran second in the Gr3 Black Opal Stakes in Australia, while several other promising types look like Time Test has a strong future.

Haunui Farm’s four-time Gr1 winner Ribchester (Iffraaj) had a strong start to his stud career with a two year-old stakes winner, Krakarib who won the Gr3 Maribyrnong Plate, from his first NZ crop, while his Irish foals have just turned four and number five stakes winners. His only Australian born crop are three year-olds, and are led by Listed Queensland Day stakes winner Red Card. A son of Iffraaj whose sire sons include Wootton Bassett (35 stakes winners), Turn Me Loose, and Ribchester himself, Ribchester is out of a half-sister to six stakes winners including Gr1 winner Matterhorn. Ribchester was a Gr2 winner at two, a Gr1 winner at three, and won three Gr1 races at four and he won or placed in 14 of his 16 starts.

Profondo Stands at Windsor Park Stud for NZ$17,500

With the new prizemoney announcements for New Zealand, it is an exciting time to be launching a stallion. Profondo comes highly credentialled as a million dollar yearling, a Gr1 winner, and with a pedigree that combines two globally recognised stallions.

Profondo first made headlines as a yearling when he sold at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $1.9million. One of only a handful of Deep Impact yearlings to go to auction in Australia, he was a unique prospect and the buying bench recognised his athleticism and long term residual value. The talk continued when he won a trial as a two year-old. Profondo was first seen at the races as an early three yearold, on September 1 2021, where he won a 1400m maiden event in Sydney. Next up, he ran second to

Race Record

- 1 A$98,750

Totals: 11 2 1 1 A$770,500

At 3 : ATC (Randwick) Spring Champion S., Gr.1 (2000m beating Never Been Kissed and Alegron), ATC (Kensington)

First Crop Magna Grecia Maiden H. (1400m), 2d ATC (Rosehill) Gloaming S., Gr.3 (1800m to Head of State and beating Benaud), 4th ATC (Rosehill) Rosehill Guineas, Gr.1 (2000m)

At 4 : 3d ATC (Randwick) Winx S., Gr.1 (1400m to Anamoe and Fangirl), 4th ATC (Randwick) Tramway S., Gr.2 (1400m)

World Thoroughbred Ranking: 116 (in 2021)

Head of State in the Gr3 Gloaming Stakes, before being asked a proper question in the Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes.

The million dollar event over 2000m has a long list of stellar graduates and Profondo was sent out favourite for the Gr1 race. He tracked last start Gr1 Flight Stakes winner Never Been Kissed, then put his head in front with 300m to go, pulling away to win by 2.3 lengths. In third was Alegron, who ran second in the Gr1 Victoria Derby at his next start. Previous winners of the Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes who have gone on to become successful sires recently include Dundeel (who quinelled the race with Proisir in second), Savabeel, and Danewin.

In the autumn, Profondo ran fourth in the Gr1 Rosehill Guineas behind nine-time Gr1 winner

PROFONDO, Bay or Brown colt, 2018

Sunday Silence

DEEP IMPACT B 2002

Wind in Her Hair

Anamoe and Gr1 winner Converge. Back at four, Profondo ran third first up in the Gr1 Winx Stakes (again to Anamoe). He retired with two wins from 11 starts and earnings over $770,000. For any yearling to make over a million dollars, they need several factors in their favour. Athletic looks, a “big name” stallion, and a strong female pedigree. Profondo, at $1.9million, has all three. His sire, Deep Impact, is one of the great international stallions. Dual Horse of the Year, Champion 3YO Colt and a Triple Crown winner, Deep Impact won twelve races, including the Gr1 Japan Cup, and the three Japanese three year-old Classics that form their Triple Crown. At stud, he has been Japan’s Champion Sire for eleven consecutive seasons, with 196 stakes winners, including international Gr1 winners Gentildonna, Contrail, Loves Only You, Fierce Impact, Snowfall, Tosen Stardom, Real Impact, Glory Vase, Auguste Rodin, Saxon Warrior, and Real Steel. His sire sons include Japanese based Kizuna (22 stakes winners), while several Gr1 winners have recently retired to Australia and Europe such as Real Impact, Santono Aladdin, Saxon Warrior, etc.

Profondo is the first foal of Honesty Prevails, who won the Gr3 Widden Stakes for two year-olds on debut, before running fourth in the Gr2 Reisling Stakes and fifth in Capitalist’s Gr1 Golden Slipper. Her second foal, Custodian, is a stakes placed winning three year-old this season. Honesty Prevails is by multiple Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice, and this is the imported American family of Champion Sire A. P. Indy.

A million dollar yearling from a sire making family, by a global super star stallion, out of a group winning two year-old, Profondo was an early maturing three year-old Gr1 winner. He ticks every box.

Turn-to Nothirdchance

Wishing Well

Alzao (USA)

Burghclere

Danehill (USA)

HONESTY PREVAILS B 2013

Redoute’s Choice Flavoured

Shantha’s Choice

Hussonet (USA)

Almond Essence (USA)

Bletchingly Jesmond Lass

Nijinsky

Raise a Native Gold Digger

Raja Baba Nalees Flying Flag

Bold Reasoning My Charmer

Our Royal Ascot conqueror’s power-packed first weanlings are turning heads

$30,000 +GST