Wrote on the rise as he headlines Highview Stud roster

Cover image courtesy of Highview Stud

It’s an exciting time at Highview Stud, with strong interest across a diverse stallion roster.

Wrote (Ire) is an exciting proven stallion that is on the improve, while Divine Prophet and Santos are proven sires but with a difference, as their oldest New Zealand-bred progeny are only now weanlings, as they were acquired by Highview a few years into their stud careers.

Adding to the anticipation is the young and well-credentialed Mr Mozart, a son of Snitzel, who is set to welcome his first foals this season.

The Thoroughbred Report caught up with Highview Stud’s Brent Gillovic to discuss the current roster and the rationale behind reintroducing a Highview Stud draft to the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale.

Wrote: The upgrader

Highview’s flagship sire Wrote (High Chaparral {Ire}) will stand for an increased service fee of NZ$12,000 (plus GST) in 2025 - a figure his results thoroughly justify. A proven upgrader of mares, Wrote continues to deliver on limited numbers and now benefits from a rising quality of support, having covered 103 mares in 2024, a similar number is expected again in 2025.

In Australia this season alone, Wrote has produced two Group-winning mares: Pulchritudinous (NZ) and Wrote To Arataki (NZ), and gone agonisingly close to more. Read About It (NZ), a dual Listed winner and an early G1 NZ Derby favourite, was struck down by a throat infection; Midnight Edition (NZ) was relegated after crossing the line first in the G2 Auckland Guineas, and Imprevu (NZ) ran second in the G2 Westbury Classic by a nose.

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, he’s on fire. From just 10 runners, he has produced eight individual winners that have won a collective 22 races, led by Chill Chibi (NZ), a promising six-time winner, and Fast Network (NZ), a five-time winner that ran fourth in the Listed Hong Kong Classic Mile.

“He’s done a really good job, and it could’ve been even better with a bit of luck,” said Gillovic. “One got relegated from a Group race, and one missed by a whisker.

"He’s gone super in Hong Kong, running at about 80 per cent winners to runners. There’s a real appetite for his progeny there, and I wish we had more. But we’ve also been heavily supporting our new boys Santos and Divine Prophet.”

Gillovic said Wrote’s 2025 book would again be capped at around 100 mares to maintain quality and consistency.

“From limited numbers, he’s done a fantastic job. He’s a real upgrader, a proven sire. I think it’s just a matter of time before another top-tier one comes along and he will be popular again this year.”

Mr Mozart about to hit the right notes with first foals

A powerful, son of Snitzel, Mr Mozart brings strong Australian sprint-miler credentials to New Zealand after winning the G2 Phar Lap Stakes, G3 Doncaster Handicap Prelude, G3 Hawkesbury Guineas, and the Listed Exford Plate as a 3-year-old in Australia.

He made an impact in his first year at stud, covering 89 mares in his debut season in 2024, and will again stand at NZ$6000 (plus GST) in 2025.

Strongly supported by his co-owner and breeder James Chapman of Jamieson Park, Mr Mozart brings strong pedigree, being out of Euro Angel (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), she was a Group 3 winner in Melbourne, and is also well-related being a half-sister to three other individual Group winners.

“He’s a lovely horse who has let down beautifully,” Gillovic said. “He competed at a high level in Australia and beat some very good horses, they hold no prisoners in Melbourne and Sydney. There’s no reason he can’t make the grade. We’re very excited to see his first foals arrive.”

Santos: Stamping his stock

The son of I Am Invincible, Santos has made a solid start to his stallion career, with three stakes winners from only 83 runners, including the Group 1 winning filly Ulanova (NZ). His early New Zealand progeny, now weanlings, are attracting positive attention for their strength, substance and type.

“He’s effectively only got two crops running, and he’s already produced a Group 1 winner and a stakes winner across the ditch,” said Gillovic.

“He’s covered some very nice pedigreed mares here. He’s leaving a quality horse.”

Santos remains unchanged at NZ$8000 (plus GST) for 2025.

Divine Prophet: A steady source of winners with upside

A full brother to New Zealand’s champion sire Proisir, Divine Prophet is quietly building momentum of his own.

“I’ll admit I misread the market a bit when we brought him over,” Gillovic said. “I thought being a Caulfield Guineas winner and a full brother to Proisir, he’d be more popular.

“But I can tell you the ones we’ve got are very good types. If you want to breed to race, Divine Prophet is a very good option. He should work very well with that Sir Tristram blood, just like Proisir has."

Divine Prophet remains at NZ$9000 (plus GST) in 2025.

Highview returns to the weanling sale spotlight

After a 15-year absence, Highview Stud is back in the fold at the NZB National Weanling Sale on June 26, offering a tidy draft of seven lots, including six from Santos’s first Kiwi-bred crop, and a colt by Redwood (GB), sire of the outstanding Antino (NZ).

“Our horse population has grown. We usually prep about 20 yearlings and keep a few to trial and sell as I have my training license, and that keeps us going,” said Gillovic.

“But with 30 to 35 yearlings likely next year, we needed to trim a few back. Some of the weanlings are very forward, so this sale is a great place to test the market.”

Gillovic also credited their larger broodmare band as a factor in the sale return.

“We were able to support Divine Prophet and Santos heavily in their first years, and we’ve picked up some really nice mares at great value. Even in a tough economy, there are opportunities for people to breed.”

Six of the weanlings in Highview’s draft are by Santos, including standout colt Lot 92 out of Amparo (NZ).

“He’s a real cracker, strong and correct,” said Gillovic. “All the Santos progeny in this draft are really good types. The fillies from Louisette, Moravany, and Odisha are very nice too.”

“We’ll see how the market values them, but we’re happy with what we’re bringing. They’re a good bunch of young horses, hopefully they sell well and we can build more momentum before the new breeding season and yearling sales roll around.”

Table: Highview Stud Stallion Fees