Lot 618’s dam Style By Design (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) was identified by Rennie, Waikato’s business manager, and secured with the assistance of Stud Principal Mark Chittick following the completion of her 21-start career in 2019, which was highlighted by two placings at Listed level.
While Rennie has had some success pinhooking in recent years nothing compares to last Wednesday’s Karaka outcome, with the Sale marking only the second time a foal he bred has gone through the ring.
Jaimee Gowler and Mike Rennie | Image courtesy of Waikato Stud
Gowler, who is Waikato’s bloodstock manager, had never been involved in the ownership of a broodmare before Chittick offered her the opportunity to take an interest in Style By Design.
“The build-up was a bit nerve-racking, she (Lot 618) was exceptionally popular at the Sale, but you never know with the uncertainties around the market at the moment how it would eventuate,” Rennie told TDN AusNZ.
“The build-up was a bit nerve-racking, she (Lot 618) was exceptionally popular at the Sale, but you never know with the uncertainties around the market at the moment how it would eventuate.” - Mike Rennie
“It was pretty awesome that it was Jaimee’s (Gowler) first foray into broodmare ownership and for her, who has worked so hard the past few years and especially since stepping up, to get a result like that off the cuff is very special, and it was also great to do it with Mark (Chittick) as well.
"At the time (Lot 618 went through the ring) almost every single staff member came up, watched her go through, and supported us which was probably the absolute highlight of it."
The Waikato Stud team watching as Lot 618 went through the sales ring at Karaka | Image courtesy of Waikato Stud
A special moment
Gowler described the occasion as somewhat ‘overwhelming’, saying that she never envisioned the filly to be as well received by the market despite her popularity during inspections.
She plans on becoming more involved in the breeding process and will be reinvesting a portion of her profits into more mares.
“I was pretty stunned and overwhelmed, I never expected to be involved in a filly like this, it was pretty exciting, especially for my first time being involved with selling a horse,” Gowler told TDN AusNZ.
Lot 618 - Savabeel x Style By Design (NZ) (filly) | Image courtesy of NZB
Rennie and Gowler both described the filly as a ‘typical’ first foal that came on in leaps and bounds during her yearling preparation phase.
They were delighted Ellis was the winning bidder and are confident the horse will get every chance at success, given Te Akau’s track record with the progeny of Savabeel.
“Everyone was pretty stoked with her (as a foal), I thought it’d be interesting as to how we’d go with her being the first foal but the whole team has done a great job with her the entire way,” Rennie said.
“She was a filly who excelled the last four months of her prep, she handled it well physically and mentally and she’s the type of Savabeel you like to see, a medium-size, with a lovely shoulder and girth that uses her big muscles well.”
"... she’s (Lot 618) the type of Savabeel you like to see, a medium-size, with a lovely shoulder and girth that uses her big muscles well.” - Jaimee Gowler
Quality mare leaving quality types
Style By Design, who is out of the dual Listed-winning High Chapparal (Ire) mare Chaparella (NZ) and is a half-sister to the Listed-winning Riva Capri (NZ) (Atlante) currently has a weanling filly by Savabeel on the ground and is currently in foal to him again.
Rennie said they haven’t yet committed to Savabeel for the fourth consecutive breeding season but noted that it would be hard to go past Waikato’s Champion stallion.
Savabeel | Standing at Waikato Stud
“They are very similar, the only difference is she (the weanling) has a bit more size to her, but she is a very attractive, similar shape of filly and that gave us the confidence to push this (yearling) filly forward to the Sale as it gives us the opportunity to race the (weanling) filly if we choose to,” he said.
“It is a family that we have a lot of faith in and I have since bought a half-sister to Style By Design as a yearling (a filly by Mongolian Khan for NZ$10,000 at last year’s NZB National Yearling Sale).”
“It is a family that we have a lot of faith in and I have since bought a half-sister to Style By Design as a yearling (a filly by Mongolian Khan for NZ$10,000 at last year’s NZB National Yearling Sale).” - Jaimee Gowler
Rennie hopes the Sale result sets a precedent for what other Waikato staff members can achieve, saying that many have bought into mares over the past 12-months.
He said Chittick is the catalyst behind the success and that the astute studmaster is always willing to provide his staff with the opportunity to pursue their personal breeding endeavours.
“Mark’s (Chittick) generosity and willingness to work with his staff to get them actively involved in this industry is second to none,” Rennie said.
“He’s on the front foot to try and give all the staff a leg up to become involved as breeders, which a lot did last year, so hopefully there are plenty more sales results like this for Waikato Stud to come.”
