Champion sire Savabeel again leads the way for Waikato Stud in 2024

Waikato Stud has declared it is “business as usual” for roster stalwart Savabeel heading into the 2024 breeding season.

New Zealand’s eight-time champion sire has been a major flagbearer for Waikato with 32 individual Group 1 winners in a decorated stud career that shows no signs of slowing down.

Savabeel heads the Waikato roster at an unchanged fee of $NZ100,000 + GST and studmaster Mark Chittick says the stallion, who has sired 145 New Zealand stakes winners, is in tremendous order as he chases down his own sire Zabeel’s record of 166 black-type winners.

“Who knows when his incredible run will end, but at this stage he continues to have a high fertility rate, is in great health and doesn’t look a lot different to when he was 12 – it’s hard to believe that was ten years ago,” Chittick said.

“He continues to be fit and healthy – it’s business as usual for Savabeel.”

Waikato’s Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth will stand for $NZ45,000 + GST this season off the back of a promising start to his stud career.

Super Seth is the sire of juvenile Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Linebacker, and his progeny were once again well-received at major yearling sales across Australasia in 2024.

His fee represents a $NZ10,000 increase on 2023.

“There has been lots of speculation as to what his service fee would go to and we know potentially we could have significantly increased it but we’re playing the long game in our ownership of stallions,” Chittick said.

“For us it’s not just about the first season on the racetrack, it’s about the next 15 or 20 years for Waikato Stud, the Super Seth Syndicate and breeders.”

Ocean Park, a consistent source of winners for Waikato, will stand at $NZ20,000 + GST – down from $NZ30,000 + GST last year.

Ardrossan ($NZ20,000 + GST), Noverre ($NZ10,000 + GST), Tivaci ($NZ8000 + GST), and Banquo ($NZ3000 + GST) will complete the seven-strong Waikato roster for 2024.

2024 Stallion Fees – Latest

The latest service fees for Australia and New Zealand for the 2024 breeding season.

The StraightStaff Writer

Chittick says Waikato’s line-up offers diversity in bloodlines for breeders and opportunity for value at every level.

“We continue to place emphasis on good, tough miler types and our 2024 roster represents that,” he said.

“Longevity is a key part of our recipe for success, and rather than focussing solely on a successful first few seasons for our sires, we decide upon fees that we hope will set them up for the long term and provide commercial opportunity for breeders.

“We are also experiencing a piqued interest from Australian breeders off the back of their success with proven New Zealand stallions that continue to achieve at the highest level within Australasia.”