Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Last year’s G1 Champagne S. winner Captivant has retired from the racetrack and will embark on a new career in the Segenhoe Valley in the spring, standing at Kia Ora for an introductory service fee of $27,500 (inc GST).
Captivant was a quality performer for the Newgate-China Horse Club partnership, who bought him for $550,000 from the draft of Ashleigh Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The son of Capitalist earned double that amount in prizemoney, with his Champagne S. triumph backed up by another five black-type placings including two at Group 1 level.
“After taking us on a great ride throughout his racing career, we are very excited about what the future holds for Captivant at stud,” Newgate’s Henry Field said. “By pooling our resources in a partnership with our good friends and neighbours at Kia Ora, we feel he will get an optimal chance to make an important mark.”
Captivant, new to the Kia Ora roster in 2022, standing for $27,500 (inc GST) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Captivant kicked off his career with a sharp 1.8l win in the Victory Vein Plate at Randwick as a spring 2-year-old. He later ran fourth in the Golden Gift, third in the G2 Skyline S., fifth in the Golden Slipper and third in the G1 Sires’ Produce S. before signing off his season with a superb victory in the Champagne.
Captivant continued to perform at a high level as a 3-year-old, headed by a close second behind star colt Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) in the G1 Caulfield Guineas.
“Captivant was sharp enough to win a Victory Vein over 1000 metres pre-Christmas, superior enough to be a Group 1-winning 2-year-old, and classy enough to fight out a Caulfield Guineas with Anamoe,” Paul Snowden said.
“Captivant was sharp enough to win a Victory Vein over 1000 metres pre-Christmas, superior enough to be a Group 1-winning 2-year-old, and classy enough to fight out a Caulfield Guineas with Anamoe.” - Paul Snowden
Kia Ora Stud’s Shane Wright is delighted to secure Captivant, whose racetrack exploits are backed up by an impressive physical presence and sound pedigree credentials, being closely related to the likes of Group 1 performer First Command (Commands), Group 2 winner and sire Headwater, and New Zealand Derby winner Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
“A stunning individual, Captivant was a $550,000 Magic Millions purchase for the Newgate-China Horse Club partnership, and Newgate are retaining a stake in his new ownership group, which is a testament to their faith in him,” Wright said.
Fees unchanged for Farnan, Prague
Kia Ora have made no changes to the service fees of their other stallions, Farnan and Prague, who will stand for $55,000 (inc GST) and $16,500 (inc GST) respectively.
Golden Slipper winner Farnan was a high-profile addition last spring and was warmly received by breeders, serving an impressive debut book of 192 mares.
Farnan will stand at an unchanged fee of $55,000 (inc GST)
“Farnan's first book of mares was fit for a Champion,” Wright said. “He covered a large number of top-tier performers and producers from some of Australasia's most prominent families.
“By sire of sires Not A Single Doubt, Farnan is from a Group-winning daughter of champion sire Street Cry, who is one of the most influential shuttle sires to come to Australia, so he has the depth of pedigree to go with his elite race performances. When you compare his key statistics to comparable sires, it's hard not to see value in his fee.
“Farnan showed last season that he has excellent fertility and a great temperament, making him an ideal stallion to work with. He has let down into a magnificent horse, showing all the muscle bulk and power we expect of an Australian speed sire.”
“Farnan showed last season that he has excellent fertility and a great temperament... He has let down into a magnificent horse, showing all the muscle bulk and power we expect of an Australian speed sire.” - Shane Wright
Meanwhile, Prague is a well-bred son of Redoute’s Choice who was a $1.6 million purchase at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He won the G3 Pago Pago S. and Canonbury S., and placed in another three stakes races including the G1 Sires’ Produce S.
Prague was also received favourably in his first season in 2021, serving a high-quality book that included the likes of Grade 1-winning American mare Mani Bhavan (USA) (Storm Boot {USA}) and Group 1 performers Banc De Fortune (Galileo {Ire}), Perfect Rhyme (Poet’s Voice {GB}) and Sistine Angel (Testa Rossa).
“Some people may not realise he was one of the highest-rated 3-year-olds to retire to stud in 2021 with a Timeform rating of 118, putting him on a par with quality colts Ole Kirk and Tagaloa, so in that context, he is outstanding value,” Wright said.
Prague will stand at an unchanged fee of $16,500 (inc GST)
“We had breeders come to inspect him last year that booked mares on the spot, because they were so impressed with him as a physical type, and given this, we can't wait to see his first foals."
