Firmly established as one of New Zealand’s elite stallions, Per Incanto will once again headline Little Avondale Stud’s three-stallion roster for the upcoming season, alongside Time Test (GB) and Nadeem.
Per Incanto enjoyed a stellar season, with 14 stakes performers, including the incredible victory by Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) in one of the world’s greats sprint races, the G1 Newmarket H. at Flemington.
He will serve a restricted book in 2022 at a service fee of NZ$50,000 (plus GST), double his 2021 fee, with a live foal guarantee.
Per Incanto (USA) | Standing at Little Avondale Stud
Per Incanto had four new Australian Group winners, including Lost And Running (NZ), who won the $1 million The Hunter, ran a great fourth in The Everest, and won the G3 Southern Cross S. at Randwick.
“Given the exploits of the likes of Roch ‘N’ Horse and Lost And Running, that really cemented the fee that we’ve set him at,” Little Avondale Stud Principal Sam Williams told TDN AusNZ.
“We’re absolutely thrilled with what he’s delivered. I’ve stated all the way through with him that they do get better with age.
“Per Incanto has upgraded a lot of his mares; he started at NZ$4000. His progeny has got better and better, no doubt about it. I think what’s ahead of him is really exciting.
“I know what’s on the ground in front of us and I know what’s going to present to the foaling paddock, and I think that’s really exciting, I can’t wait.”
“I know what’s on the ground in front of us and I know what’s going to present to the foaling paddock (by Per Incanto), and I think that’s really exciting, I can’t wait.” - Sam Williams
As well as Roch ‘N’ Horse and Lost And Running, Justacanta (NZ) was a Group winner on VRC Derby Day, while Belluci Babe (NZ) triumphed at Group 3 level and ran fourth in two Group 1s.
Per Incanto is on his way to securing consecutive Hong Kong Sires' Premierships for winners and wins totalling a lifetime runner to winner ratio in Hong Kong of 76 per cent.
“I think Hong Kong is where he’s really kicked a goal,” Williams said.
Roch 'N' Horse (NZ) winning the G1 Newmarket H. | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Consistently New Zealand’s leading stallion for return on service fee, Per Incanto’s 2022 yearling sale results have gone to another level. He was the leading New Zealand-based sire at the Inglis Easter Sale, averaging $373,000, and his 12 yearlings sold in Australia averaged $190,000 and he had an overall Australasian sale average of $137,000 for 37 sold.
Time to shine
A son of the great Dubawi (Ire), Time Test was Europe’s leading freshman sire of 2-year-old stakes winners in 2021 and the lone sire to have three runners in New Zealand’s richest juvenile race, the Karaka Million.
Off the mark with 2-year-old winners in New Zealand and Australia this season, Time Test was very popular across the 2022 Australasian yearling sales averaging NZ$70,000 for 28 yearlings sold.
Fully booked at Little Avondale the past two seasons, Time Test will stand for NZ$10,000 (plus GST).
Time Test (GB) | Standing at Little Avondale Stud
“I absolutely love the horse, I really do,” he said.
“For a stallion that wasn’t a 2-year-old, that doesn’t really have it on his pedigree to be leaving 2-year-olds, I think he’s done a tremendous job to date, considering they’re only going to get better as 3 and 4-year-olds.”
Rounding out the roster is the proven, ultra-reliable Nadeem.
Sir Nate (NZ) and Mohaka (NZ), who both placed placed in Group company this season, have been his consistent flagbearers on the track, ensuring a strike rate of 5.9 per cent and an overall winner-to-runners ratio of 65.8 per cent.
Nadeem | Standing at Little Avondale Stud
“He’s a wonderful old horse, a real workmanlike horse,” Williams said.
“He’s in really good fettle.”
Nadeem will stand for NZ$4000 (plus GST).
