Written by Paul Vettise
Belardo (Ire) has made a flying start to his stud career in the Northern Hemisphere and he’s now off the mark Down Under with his son Avonallo (NZ) crediting the Haunui Farm shuttle stallion with his first success.
And to add further cause for celebration at the Chitty family’s Karaka farm, the winning strike came in a black type event with the Jamie Richards-trained colt claiming the Listed Frantic Bloodstock Welcome S. at Riccarton.
“It’s very exciting to have a young horse win like that with the master combination of Jamie Richards and rider Opie Bosson and breeder Sam Williams, who is a share-holder in Belardo and a great friend of mine so it’s just awesome,” Haunui’s Mark Chitty said.
He has been a popular choice for breeders since his first tour of duty at Haunui in 2016.
Belardo stands at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in Ireland and has been represented by 12 first-crop Northern Hemisphere winners, including Isabella Giles (Ire) who was successful in the G2 Newmarket Rockfel S. while Lullaby Moon (GB) and Elysium (Ire) have been Group 3 winners.
“He has served in excess of 95 mares each season and he’ll do that again, he might even get a few more after today,” Chitty said. “He has got a good group of people supporting him, the New Zealand breeders have really got in behind him.
“He has got a good group of people supporting him, the New Zealand breeders have really got in behind him.” – Mark Chitty
“He’s got the numbers to come and he’s showed the ability to get a stakes winning 2-year-old.
“With the types of horses he has left I always thought he would get a runner or two before Christmas and that has eventuated.
“The sire line can do that, more so Shamardal than Lope De Vega and I was hopeful and I know what our history says, but it is nice to have horses that come out a bit earlier and run.”
Avonallo (NZ) as a yearling
Avonallo was purchased by Chris Rutten for NZ$30,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale with breeder and seller Little Avondale Stud remaining in the ownership.
He is out of Real Angel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), a half-sister to the dual stakes winner Marquardt (Shamardal {USA}). It is also the family of the multiple Group 1 winners Dandy Andy (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}) and Ballroom Babe (NZ) (Citidancer {USA}).
“Chris Rutten is a good judge of a yearling and for him and Sam and everyone concerned it’s really nice to see,’ Chitty said.
“Chris Rutten is a good judge of a yearling and for him and Sam and everyone concerned it’s really nice to see.” - Mark Chitty
Avonallo had finished runner-up to Follow Your Dreams (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) in his first two 800 metre outings and turned the tables in the Welcome S. with ease. He sat in second spot to the turn and was dominant in the closing stages.
“I had been really happy with him and he kept on improving. When a baby keeps putting on weight through the preparation it is always a good sign,” Richards said.
Avonallo will now head north to Te Akau for a short break before heading toward the Karaka Million.
“He’s got enough money in the bank to be in so we’ll probably run him in a race two weeks beforehand. He’s a good colt and the step up to 1000 metres today was always going to help him,” Richards said.
