'It's a relief as by the time Super Seth covered a mare it was a NZ$20 million investment.': Seth heads to Inglis Easter a Group-producing sire

Cover image courtesy of Waikato Stud

Mark Chittick, of Waikato Stud, expressed his relief and excitement at Super Seth’s outstanding start to his stud career.

This past Saturday marked a significant milestone for Super Seth as his promising son, Linebacker (NZ), showcased resilience to claim victory in the G3 TL Baillieu H. at only his second start.

Under the guidance of John O’Shea, Linebacker is one of four winners sired by Super Seth from 14 runners. Another notable performer from the first-crop of the G1 Caulfield Guineas victor is Poetic Champion (NZ), who impressed with a commanding 6l victory on debut. Following this remarkable debut, Poetic Champion went on to place in the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. and the G3 Matamata RC Slipper.

The Thoroughbred Report spoke with Chittick as Waikato Stud gear up to present a draft at the upcoming 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Sky's the limit

Super Seth will be represented by three yearlings at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to kick off on Sunday, April 7.

Waikato Stud are set to present one son of Super Seth in their three-lot draft. Lot 71 is a November-born, bay colt. He is the fifth foal from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Hopscotch (NZ), who was unraced.

Hopscotch made a sensational start to her broodmare career with her first foal, Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) winning the G1 New Zealand Oaks and the G2 Eight Carat Classic, securing her the title of New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year.

“The colt (Lot 71) we have going to Sydney for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale was born on the seventh of November. One of the reasons I wanted to have a Super Seth in the sale was because I thought well hopefully, he’s sired a Group winner by then. So, it has worked out well.

“The colt is really quite a big-framed horse and I just felt that a bit of time would give him the opportunity to fill that frame out, which is what has happened. Super Seth throws very athletic animals with plenty of size and this colt has a beautiful pedigree.

“We were hopeful his 3-year-old half-sister, Knucklebones would have got some black-type because she won very impressively in her first preparation. She had a break and them came back in and was supposed to be competing in Sydney but unfortunately, she pulled a shoe and stepped on the nail.

“That has held her up for a couple of weeks, getting that right but she’ll be back soon and hopefully she goes on with it.”

Chittick shared some insight to what mares have been clicking with Super Seth from a physical perspective.

“He has been an interesting horse. Super Seth probably stands just over 16hh and being a son of Dundeel, who’s doing a great job, but of course he’s not a very big horse.

“With that in mind we put mares with a bit of size to Super Seth in his first season, but it soon became evident after the first crop of foals that it wasn’t needed.

“The size on the mare's side wasn’t needed and in fact we’ve turned a full circle now. If we want to put some leg into a mare or think she needs some size, we’ll often use Super Seth for that.

“Which is really good, and I would say he’s definitely producing his own type. The comments that we got with the second crop at the yearling sales was that this crop was better overall than the first crop.

“I think that’s probably because we learned how to breed him.”

More of a relief

Linebacker was sold by Haunui Farm at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$160,000 to John O’Shea Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA).

However, the 2-year-old colt has received plenty of praise from all associated with him in his early career.

Chittick keeping a close eye on the Super Seth added, “John O’Shea and Tommy Berry made plenty of comments about how Linebacker didn’t get his own way and for him to fight like that and win as a very unseasoned racehorse was incredibly impressive.

“For us it’s a relief. By the time we got Super Seth into the breeding shed it was not far off a NZ$20 million investment, a majority from ourselves (Waikato Stud) and our very loyal partners. So, when you get results like Poetic Champion coming out on winning on debut impressively.

“Alongside now a first stakes winner it’s fantastic. However, in these early days to be honest it is more a relief than anything else. John O’Shea has spoken extremely highly of Linebacker and Super Seth all the way through.

“More than 12 months ago he was one of the few that approached me to try and get hold of a share in Super Seth. But also, multiple trainers just over the last month or so have really started to comment that they’ve got a Super Seth or two in their stable that they really like.

“It certainly seems we’re on the right path with him.”

King of Waikato

On Saturday, Super Seth wasn’t the sole star from Waikato Stud to make waves. Savabeel, the eight-time Champion Sire, celebrated another triumph as his exceptional daughter, Orchestral (NZ), secured the G1 Vinery Stud S., adding to her impressive G1 New Zealand Derby win.

Further showcasing his prowess, Savabeel marked a milestone by producing his 143rd stakes winner, Wymark (NZ), who claimed victory in the G2 Tulloch S. The victory positions the 3-year-old gelding as a strong contender for the upcoming G1 Australian Derby.

Gallery: Progeny of Savabeel who won Group races on Saturday

Next Saturday, will mark 12 months since Savabeel claimed the rare distinction of siring the G1 TJ Smith S. victor I Wish I Win (NZ), a homebred for Waikato Stud, and Major Beel (NZ), who took out the G1 Australian Derby.

The Champion son of Zabeel (NZ) is well-positioned to emulate the feat with all reports suggesting I Wish I Win is flying and Wymark progressing through every challenge.

Savabeel currently sits atop the New Zealand General Sires’ Premiership and is seventh on the Australian General Sires’ table. Incredibly, Savabeel has dominated the Dewar Award - Champion New Zealand-based sire by total progeny earnings within New Zealand and Australia.

He broke the run of his late Waikato Stud compatriot O’Reilly in the 2015/16 season and held that before another barn mate, Ocean Park (NZ) briefly took control. However, since 2020/21 Savabeel has made the award his own.

Waikato Stud will present two fillies by the Champion Sire at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The first of those through the Riverside ring is Lot 323.

The daughter of Savabeel is the third foal from the Iffraaj (GB) mare Style By Design (NZ). She won twice and was placed in the Listed Levin RC Ryder S. and the Listed Wanganui JC O’Leary's S.

The second of those fillies, Lot 403 is bred on the sensational Savabeel/O’Reilly cross. The filly is the fourth foal from Absolutely Me (NZ), who won once and is the dam of the dual winner Newly Wed (NZ) (Savabeel).

Lot 403 is from the family of the Group 1 winners Vision And Power (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}), Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and Espiona (Extreme Choice).

“They’re two very, very nice fillies (Lot 323 and Lot 403). They were two fillies we looked to retain but as it happened both of their dams foaled fillies again last year.

“So that’s why I thought we’d take the opportunity to take these two to the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Between those two and the colt that’s where it became what I would call really worthwhile to make the trip to Australia.

“The Absolutely Me filly (Lot 403) is bred on that incredible cross, being an O’Reilly mare. I don’t know how many females we’re breeding out of that family, but it would be more than 10.

“The mare has a couple of shots to fire with some older sisters. She has one with Roger James and Robert Wellwood and one in Australia with Anthony and Sam Freedman.

“Overall, she’s a lovely filly with a sensational pedigree. The second filly (Lot 323) is the third filly from the mare. The first filly Stylistic was injured and won’t race and the second filly Viva Glam had her first start on a wet track at Matamata and flew home.

“This filly is just an absolute beast. We haven’t put them over the scales, but I know she’d be the heaviest one we’re taking over to Australia because she’s just a beast.

“She’s just a big, strong, muscular filly.”

O’Reilly legacy lives on

Chittick and the Waikato Stud team were devastated by the passing of O’Reilly in 2014. However, the Champion Sire’s legacy is being felt strongly and fittingly, his daughters have formed an affinity with Savabeel.

O’Reilly is currently leading the New Zealand Broodmare Sires for the 2023/24 season with 69 winners of 111 races, including 13 stakes winners.

The top-prizemoney contributor is Savabeel’s star, filly Orchestral. Combined, the Savabeel/O’Reilly cross is striking at 14 per cent with earnings of $31,890,577. Nine Group 1 winners have been bred on the cross, while 164 winners have been produced.

“We work very hard on our stallion selections and purchases. O’Reilly was bred on the farm, so he came along a little bit differently, but when you stand these Champion stallions, we have a policy for backing our product and keeping fillies by them.

“If they’re successful stallions, more often than not, they become successful broodmare sires. The O’Reilly/Savabeel cross has just been incredible.

“They’re both bloody good stallions and have clicked quite nicely. Then you’ve got the next step, and yesterday Saltcoats, who is by our Ardrossan, finished third in the Tulloch, and he’s from a daughter of Savabeel.

“Savabeel being a son of Zabeel, who is a great sire and broodmare sire and being out of a sensational broodmare sire in Success Express, I think that it’s a no-brainer Savabeel will follow in the footsteps as a successful broodmare stallion.

I Wish I Win primed for TJ defence

The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained I Wish I Win is primed to defend his title in the G1 TJ Smith S. The Waikato Stud colour-bearer has not been seen on a racetrack since he finished second in The Everest in the spring.

“I Wish I Win is absolutely spot on. The trackwork yesterday (Saturday), to be honest was mind blowing.

“It was really quite cool to see. You know we have been waiting a wee while for him to get back to the track and now we’re within seven days the excitement of the occasion is really starting to build.

“From yesterday's report we couldn’t be happier and he couldn’t be better. Hopefully it all pans out and Imperatriz will line up as well. It will be very interesting with her being rock hard fit and us first-up.

“But Peter (Moody) and Katherine (Coleman) really feel as though they’ve got I Wish I Win spot on without racing.”

A breath of fresh air

Chittick also commented on the renewed sense of vitality in the New Zealand racing and breeding industry.

“It's certainly a hell of a breath of fresh air. Positive fresh air and let’s say fantastic change. This week we’ve got the whole rebranding of trackside on TV.

“Just the multilevel things that Entain are really getting behind and pushing. Prizemoney is the main thing but the branding of the trackside and within a month a whole new betting app are other things.

“Entain are also right behind the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association Pearl Series and put it this way we’ve never entered a filly to the series. Yet last week we signed up around 10. So I think Entain are giving it a real boot up the backside and tackling from all different angles.

“It’s obviously industry run on results but we’re seeing we are incredibly proud of it and it is just going to be so good. So much better having positivity in our backyard.”