Noverre takes rightful spot as heir apparent to legendary sire Savabeel

Cover image courtesy of Trish Dunell

Noverre is one of the best horses that arguably the best New Zealand trainer Jamie Richards has had in his stable, he was a must-have for Te Akau Racing Principal David Ellis at first sight, and he meets every criteria required to fill Chittick's desire to stand a son of Waikato Stud's legendary sire, Savabeel.

Noverre was an NZ$800,000 purchase for Te Akau Racing Principal David Ellis at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka, topping the Waikato Stud draft that year. After finishing second on debut as a 2-year-old over 1200 metres, he broke his maiden three weeks later.

He won the G3 War Decree S. (1600 metres) in late October, before displaying a scintillating burst to go from last to first in the G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton, assuring his position on the Waikato Stud roster.

Ellis said the first-named foal out of the Group 3-winning 2-year-old Magic Dancer (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), herself a daughter of multiple 2-year-old stakes winner Dazzling Belle (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}), had captured his attention from the first moment he saw him.

“From the moment I saw him as a yearling, Noverre was a colt we had to have,” said Ellis.

“He was as close to perfect as one would see in a yearling. He was an incredible athlete, with a deep girth and quality head.

“We paid a bit more for him than we thought we would have to, but right from day one he showed us he was special. He put in a freakish effort in the 2000 Guineas, giving them a start at the turn and beating them the way he did.

“He’s right up there with the best Te Akau have trained.”

Such was the impression Noverre left on the team at Waikato Stud as a young colt, they have returned Magic Dancer to Savabeel every season since producing Noverre in 2018.

Another three colts have followed, including the current yearling that sold for $950,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and the mare is in foal again to the Champion sire.

Rightful place on the roster

Chittick said Waikato Stud was absolutely delighted to be standing the talented and classy colt who had earned his place alongside his legendary sire.

“It’s pretty special for us to have Noverre join his legendary sire Savabeel on the roster and believe me, picking his heir apparent was not a decision we have taken lightly,’’ Chittick said.

“He’s an outstanding-looking horse and in all his racing he’s shown a massive turn of foot. We’ve always wanted to stand a son of Savabeel and it may not be the last one but certainly with the process that we’ve gone through he suits everything that we wanted,’’ he said.

“Savabeel showed speed and precocity as a racehorse, as did his dam, and I believe these were crucial ingredients in his success as a stallion. Noverre has the same profile, as a smart 2-year-old out of a fast dam and grandam, all with their share of juvenile ability,” said Chittick.

“He’s a big, strapping dark horse, like his sire, and possibly even better-looking than Savabeel. He’s been on the farm for two months and has let down into an absolutely beautiful horse, both physically and mentally.

“We’d love anyone interested to come to Waikato Stud and see him in the flesh themselves.”

Richards backs Noverre in

Noverre’s victory at the top level continued Waikato Stud's dominance in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas over the past decade. The Matamata farm has now bred and sold five of the last 10 Guineas winners.

Te Akau’s distinctive tangerine colours have been carried by seven 2000 Guineas winners, with many colts using it as a stepping stone to a career at stud.

“He was really explosive when he got clear in the 2000 Guineas and looked a pretty special colt,” Richards said. “It’s a shame that we didn’t get the opportunity to campaign him across the ditch, as I thought he would have been capable of being competitive in the autumn carnival.”

Richards said that while Ellis had paid a bit of money for Noverre, the colt had the pedigree and the looks, and developed into a stunning colt.

“I’m sure he will be passing those elite genes on to his progeny, in the same way as his own sire Savabeel has,’’ said Richards.

Savabeel is enjoying yet another stellar season, having sired six individual Group 1 winners over the first three months of the new season, including current New Zealand Horse of the Year, Probabeel (NZ).

Sales success on Aussie soil

Waikato Stud has enjoyed sales success in Australia at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and both the Inglis Classic Sale in Sydney and Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale this week, teaming with Sledmere Stud and Stonehouse Thoroughbreds respectively to present 20 yearlings for sale across those events.

Chittick said he’d been extremely happy with how those sales had gone and while not able to attend in person, he very much felt involved in the buoyant Australian bloodstock and racing scene.

“We sent horses over there that we knew would be appealing and Royston and Catriona and their team at Sledmere have done an incredible job, they’re so good to work with, as is Ryan Arnel at Stonehouse Thoroughbreds,’’ Chittick said.

“As well as building relationships with them, and to be honest there was very little discussion around the whole lot because we were all on the same page, with the horses that we race, the relationships that we have built in the industry over (in Australia), even without being over there we really feel a part of the Australian industry,’’ he said.

“And, there’s no two ways about it, be it in the sales ring or the race track, it’s the best part of the horse industry in the world.’’

Chittick said knowing the professionalism of those people assisting them on Australian soil had given them confidence but he hopes soon that COVID restrictions ease to allow even more collaboration.

“It would have been lovely to have been there but hopefully that’s getting closer. Just to catch up with people, shake hands and give each other a pat on the back for what everybody has achieved in the incredible industry that we’re in,’’ he said.

“We’re very proud of what we’re doing and the industry we’re in. I couldn’t be enjoying the business any more than what we are at the moment.’’

His highlight of the Australian sales was knowing that 20 Waikato Stud horses had sold to homes where they would be given every opportunity to be their best.

“When we breed a horse at Waikato Stud we strive to give it every opportunity to be its best. These horses have gone to Australia, sold incredibly well, gone to incredible homes and I know that they are going to get every opportunity to show their best on the racetrack and repay those people who have put their hand up for them, that’s the highlight for me,’’ he said.

Karaka promises plenty too

Heading into the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka, which starts on Monday, Chittick said the delayed timing for the Sale meant there would be some superbly finished yearlings through the sales ring, thanks to a change in schedule for his Waikato Stud team.

“It’s been an interesting time for us,’’ he said. “It’s been quite nice to be able to finish off the breeding season, give everyone a bit of a let up and then start on these yearlings.

“Certainly, physically they’re obviously more mature because they’re 20 per cent older than usual. But mentally we’ve found them a lot more mature. Time has helped that but one of the advantages that I have really seen is the yearling preparation for a January sale starts in November.

“In November, we’ve got a good part of our staff that are the most experienced horse people in the breeding shed, not starting on these colts and fillies and the yearling prep.

“What we’ve found this year is that we’ve been able to finish the breeding season and all of our incredible team got stuck into the yearling preparation and I really do think it helped with the handling and management of these yearlings. They’re just totally different horses.’’

Chittick said he would 'sit on the fence' with regards to his thoughts on a permanent Sale date change and assess in the weeks following the Sale.

“We obviously enter these yearlings back in July and we honestly thought the world would be back to some sort of normality,’’ he said.

“Unfortunately, we’ve missed out by the skin of our teeth. It just would have been so nice to have had everybody here that wanted to be here because I really did put a bit of effort into having a strong draft here because I honestly thought everybody would be here.’’

That strong Waikato Stud draft is headed by the full brother of Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) from O’Reilly (NZ) mare Chandelier (NZ) at Lot 161.

Gallery: some of Waikato Stud's New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft

“If you’re going to mention a top three, you can’t not mention him,’’ said Chittick, “As a racehorse, I’m going to put a plug in for an Ardrossan colt, the one out of Vanilla Essence (Lot 39). He’s probably not going to feature in the top 10 sales prices but I would imagine over the next two years you’ll be seeing him as a top 10 racehorse,’’ added Chittick.

“And there’s a filly that I really have a sweet spot for, a Tivaci filly out of Loveable (Lot 383). It’s a great family and she’s typical of the Tivaci x Savabeel cross and she’s a lovely filly with a great pedigree.’’