Staphanos leads Novara Park line-up with his fee trimmed to NZ$9000

Cover image courtesy of Novarra Park

Novara Park, based in Waikato of New Zealand, have just announced its 2025 stallion roster and fees. Leading the charge is the Group 1 producing son of Deep Impact (Jpn) in Staphanos (Jpn), he has had his fee trimmed to NZ$9000 (plus GST).

The fee of Sweynesse has also been reduced to NZ$7000 (plus GST), while King Of Comedy (Ire) and Press Statement remain at their 2024 fees of NZ$7000 (plus GST) and NZ$6000 (plus GST) respectively.

Payment on live foal: A move to help breeders out

Novara Park is taking proactive steps to support breeders and other sectors of the racing industry in response to current market challenges. Stud owner Luigi Muollo has introduced a breeder-friendly initiative, all of the farm’s stallions' service fees will be due on a live-foal basis.

“We are also mindful of the challenges facing trainers and syndicators, along with breeders, the cost of production and wages, everything has increased. All our stallions this season will be payment on live foaling to help breeders. We want to ensure everyone has a good chance, no matter which part of the market they operate in,” Muollo said.

Staphanos Making an Impact

Deep Impact’s (Jpn) son Staphanos (Jpn) made an immediate impression with his debut crop, headlined by Group 1 winning juvenile Pignan (NZ), and has continued to build momentum. His influence is growing rapidly in the Australian market, where he is now establishing himself as a serious force and he looks value at $9000 (plus GST).

One of his headline acts is Basilinna (NZ), a Listed winner and multiple Group performer who ran second in the G1 VRC Oaks, placed in the G2 Kewney Stakes, Listed Port Adelaide Cup and G3 Ethereal Stakes, and booked her ticket to the 2025 Melbourne Cup with victory in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes.

Another standout is Movin Out (NZ), who placed in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas before being sold to Yulong Stud. She went on to win the Mornington Guineas and has placed in the G2 Doomben Roses, as well as running fourth in both the G1 Queensland Oaks and G2 Phar Lap Stakes. Her full sibling, The Entertainer (NZ), has won three races and placed in the G3 Desert Gold Stakes.

Further depth comes from horses like Medatsu (NZ), who was Listed placed in New Zealand before heading to Australia and racking up four additional city wins, and Sassy Lass (NZ), a promising stayer who recorded several wins before going down narrowly in the G3 Waikato Gold Cup.

“Among our current stallions at stud with Group 1 winners and performers in Australia and New Zealand, Staphanos ranks third, behind only Savabeel and Super Seth, in the percentage of Group 1 winners and performers compared to runners,” Muollo said.

“Staphanos has a number of smart horses that are proven at the highest level. He brings soundness to his progeny and they will only improve as they mature. He was a multiple Group One performer at world-class level as a 4-year-old, 5-year-old and 6-year-old, so the best is ahead for his progeny.”

Sweynesse doing the job across the board

Proven sire Sweynesse, a son of Lonhro, continues to deliver consistent results across key jurisdictions. He’s best known as the sire of Lucky Sweynesse (NZ), the world’s highest-rated sprinter in 2023 a New Zealand Horse of the Year and Hong Kong Champion Sprinter. In fact, Sweynesse was the leading New Zealand-based sire in Hong Kong last year.

“Certainly he continues to add to his record with a number of satisfying results,” Muollo said.

Among those results is Trust In You (NZ), the G3 Queen Elizabeth Cup winner who has performed well at Group 1 level in Australia and is expected to improve further this season. The consistent Orlov (NZ), a multiple stakes performer, recently brought up win number ten, while others like Sweysive (NZ) and Satness (NZ) have been stacking up wins and prizemoney in Sydney, all part of a growing wave of Sweynesse progeny proving their worth in both Hong Kong and Australia.

“It is very pleasing to know that he is popular and in favour in both Hong Kong and Australia,” Muollo added.

Kingman blood in New Zealand

The oldest progeny of King Of Comedy (Ire), now 2-year-olds, are starting to show plenty of promise with a string of trial and jumpout winners. By Kingman (GB), one of Europe’s most sought-after stallions and the second-fastest in history to reach 50 stakes winners (currently sitting on 95), King Of Comedy brings blue-chip bloodlines to New Zealand.

Kingman has already sired multiple Group 1 winners in Australia, including Zardozi and King Colorado, and his influence extends to both hemispheres.

King Of Comedy himself was once rated the best 3-year-old in Europe following his runner-up finish to Circus Maximus (Ire) in the stallion-making G1 St James’s Palace Stakes. In that performance he placed ahead of Too Darn Hot (GB), who has since made a flying start at stud in both Europe and Australia.

“King Of Comedy has the looks, pedigree and racetrack performance to be a hit at stud. We have a number of 2-year-olds about to hit the track and they look very strong and balanced,” said Muollo.

Press Statement a reliable source of winners

Dual Group 1 winner Press Statement continues to carve out a reliable reputation at stud. With 216 individual winners earning over $28 million in prize-money, including the very good mare Roots among his seven stakes winners and ten stakes performers. He has become a go-to stallion for breeders seeking value and consistency.

“Press Statement is a proven stallion with an incredible 73.5 per cent winners-to-runners ratio from his first two crops,” Muollo said.

Breeding with confidence

Novara Park’s 2025 stallion roster offers a balanced and compelling mix of proven sires, emerging talent, and elite international pedigrees. Most importantly, the stud is focused on working with breeders to help them navigate the current climate and breed with confidence.

“Novara Park is always looking at offering upside and value for money to breeders. Our stallion line-up offers breeders the best bloodlines in the world while our fees give our clients affordability,” Muollo said.

Table: Stallion fees 2025 for Novara Park