Staphanos and Sweynesse remain unchanged as Novara Park release fees

Cover image courtesy of Novara Park

Novara Park, based in New Zealand, unveiled its 2024 stallion roster and fees on Monday. Leading the charge is Staphanos (Jpn), a son of Deep Impact (Jpn), maintaining his standing with an unchanged fee of NZ$15,000 (plus GST).

Meanwhile, Sweynesse, sire of the renowned Champion Sprinter Lucky Sweynesse, also retains his position at an unchanged fee of NZ$10,000 (plus GST). He is the son of the recently deceased Champion Sire Lonhro.

Impressively, Sweynesse has sired 77 individual winners from 159 runners, accumulating 196 victories. Among his offspring are seven stakes winners who have claimed 17 stakes races. Additionally, he has produced 10 stakes performers.

Luigi Muollo, of Novara Park, emphasised Sweynesse's consistency, stating, “Sweynesse will remain at NZ$10,000 (plus GST). He’s boasting about 5 per cent stakes winners to runners, a commendable statistic. Of course, he's the proud sire of the Champion Sprinter Lucky Sweynesse, bred by us. He has consistently produced high-quality horses."

Staphanos building nicely

The regally bred Staphanos remains at NZ$15,000 (plus GST) after an encouraging start to his stud career. The son of Deep Impact (Jpn) has 14 winners of 18 races, including one stakes winner and four stakes performed runners.

Like Sweynesse, Staphanos has also sired a Group 1 winner, Pignan (Jpn), a victress of the G1 Manawatu Sires Produce S. She is complemented by Basilinna (NZ), who was placed in the G2 AV Kewney S. and the G1 VRC Oaks.

Alongside, The Entertainer (NZ), a Group 3 placegetter and Medatsu (NZ) who has been Listed-placed.

Commenting on Staphanos' progress, Luigi Muollo noted, “Staphanos has been going really well. He had a good book last year and obviously he started with a stakes winner and now has produced a further three new stakes performers during this season.

“I think as a son of Deep Impact, they’ll be better 4-year-olds and as they get older. Staphanos has had several nice trial horses, including a horse I bred myself named Shangri La Impact, who is a full sister to Basilinna.

“He’s building and we are quite fortunate to have him as a stallion.”

Son of Kingman making waves

Novara Park is adding to its international prestige with King Of Comedy (Ire), son of one of Europe's premier young stallions, Kingman (GB). Kingman recently made headlines once again with a stakes double, including siring the G1 1000 Guineas victor, Elmalka (GB).

King Of Comedy, a Listed winner and Group 1-placed in the G1 St James Palace S. at Royal Ascot will stand for NZ$7000 (plus GST). Like Elmalka, King Of Comedy is from a daughter of Selkirk (USA) - Stage Presence (Ire).

Stage Presence is also the dam of the G1 Prix de Diane winner Star Of Seville (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) and the G3 Sweet Solera S. winner English Ballet (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

King Of Comedy had 12 yearlings sold for a gross of NZ$259,259 and an average of NZ$21,604 and median of NZ$18,518. He also achieved a top price of NZ$55,556.

Reflecting on King Of Comedy's potential, Muollo commented, “The Kingman and Selkirk cross has been very effective. I think you can call Kingman one of the best young sires in Europe and at one point he was rated the best racehorse over there. King Of Comedy’s yearlings are rising 2-year-olds and we’re really looking forward to them hitting the track and I don’t think they’ll take long to mature.

Statement to be made

Rounding out Novara Park’s 2024 roster is the proven commodity Press Statement at NZ$6000 (plus GST). The son of Hinchinbrook started his career at Vinery Stud in Australia before his relocation to New Zealand.

The dual Group 1 winner has sired six stakes winners and 177 individual winners. Additionally Press Statement has been represented by 16 stakes performers. On Saturday, his son Press Link indicated his future prospects with a fast finishing third in the G2 Queensland Guineas.

I think Press Statement will probably get a lot more views this year just from his results on the racetrack in the last 12 months and what he’s done in Australia this month alone. He’s not going unnoticed. He has a nice horse in Press Link, who ran very well in the G2 Queensland Guineas and connections have further aims during the carnival with him. Press Statement is a very consistent horse and he’s got a great runner to winners strike rate in his first two crops. He’s still a very young stallion, and his biggest crop of 3-year-olds at the moment are starting to produce the goods.”

Table: Novara Park's stallion roster for 2024