She is the gift that keeps on giving, and Kia Ora Stud’s Gypsy Robin (USA) (Daaher {Can}) has delivered yet again in 2025, producing a filly by resident stallion Farnan in August. The foal is another chip off the old block that has already produced G1 Moir Stakes-winning stallion Wild Ruler and G3 Kembla Grange Classic winner Pavitra (American Pharoah {USA}).
The filly is Gypsy Robin's second foal by the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner, who finished last season in second spot by earnings in the first season sires' table, and first by individual winners.
“She's just an absolutely classy type of filly,” said Kia Ora’s Bloodstock and Breeding Manager Shane Wright. “She's done everything right so far. Gypsy Robin obviously has a huge lineage behind her, and she produces a nice foal every year.”
Gallery: Farnan x Gypsy Robin (USA) filly, born at Kia Ora Stud
Gypsy Robin was a US$750,000 purchase for Alex Kingston on behalf of Kia Ora Stud from Three Chimney Sales at the Keeneland November Breeding Sale in 2013, and it’s clear from her race record why; her six wins include two at Grade 2 level and three at Listed level, plus she ran second in the G1 Saratoga Test Stakes and a handful of other Graded stakes races. She was imported to Australia the following February, and the rest is history.
American mares have become increasingly popular among breeders in recent years, and when they consistently produce good types like Gypsy Robin has done, it’s easy to believe the trend will continue.
An ever-growing family
“Even her daughters are starting to come into their own now as broodmares, with Caravan producing Just A Journey who was stakes-placed at her first start in stakes company last week. Pavitra, one of her better daughters on the racetrack who was Group 1-placed and a Group 3 winner, had her first foal by Snitzel last year and that filly will be going to the Inglis Easter Sale next year.”
“Her (Gypsy Robin's) daughters are starting to come into their own now as broodmares.” - Shane Wright
Caravan (Snitzel) is the first of Gypsy Robin’s foals, and the only one to the track who did not win - but she has had more to give in the breeding barn. Her 3-year-old daughter Just A Journey (Justify {USA}) was a $400,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate from Kia Ora’s draft and was purchased by James Bester Bloodstock, before being sent to Michael Freedman. A three-time winner, twice at city level, she was sent south for the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes last start and was only beaten a whisker.
“Every year, there's a very predominant black-type horse in the family, and when you look at this filly, you can’t help but feel like there’s no reason in the world that she won't carry that on,” Wright said.
Shane Wright | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Caravan’s other foal to the track, Damascus Gate (American Pharoah {USA}), is no slouch either, with five wins to his credit. Caravan was left dry last season after foaling a colt by So You Think (NZ), and heads to City Of Troy (USA) this spring.
Pavitra was one of the early stakes successes in the father-son training partnership of Richard and Will Freedman, progressing in her first full preparation from a maiden win at Newcastle to running second in both the G2 Wakeful Stakes and the G1 VRC Oaks. In her next preparation, she added the Kembla Grange Classic to her record and notched another top flight second in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes.
Pavitra | Image courtesy of Kia Ora Stud
In her first two seasons at stud, she has produced two fillies by the late Snitzel - replicating one of her dam’s greatest crosses. An Inglis Easter graduate herself - as are all of Gypsy Robin’s foals to go through the ring - it’s fitting that her first foal will sell in the same venue.
Of interest, Gypsy Robin is also a half-sister to Listed winner Tiger Cat Lilly (USA) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), whose Listed-winning daughter Lilliesformillie (USA) (Pioneerof The Nile {USA}) resides down the road from Gypsy Robin at Cressfield, with a filly by Too Darn Hot (GB) at foot.
Size and scope
Kia Ora have been understandably keen to retain or buy back daughters of their star, but occasionally someone else gets a chance to get hold of a piece of her pedigree.
“There's so much promise from her daughters going to stud,” Wright said. “Bells Beach has just retired and has been purchased by Riverstone Lodge at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale this year. She was another daughter of Farnan, she is a bit different from the one born this year.
“This foal we have now is a little bit bigger, a little bit more scope to her, and will probably have a little bit more longevity on the track. Bells Beach looked like a ready-made 2-year-old, but sadly she was injured before she could race, so she had to be retired and we didn’t get to see the best of her.”
“This foal we have now is a little bit bigger, a little bit more scope to her.” - Shane Wright
Offered by Newgate Consignment at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, Bells Beach (Farnan) was a $260,000 purchase for the astute judges at Riverstone Lodge and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA). She is the only daughter of Gypsy Robin to no longer be a resident of Kia Ora Stud, who bought back the 4-year-old Sakanta (Snitzel) from the same draft this year and have retained her 2-year-old Gamana (Snitzel), who is trained by Michael Freedman.
Bells Beach | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Producing champions
From five foals to the track, Gypsy Robin has produced four multiple winners; Uluru (Fastnet Rock) and Wild Gypsy (American Pharoah {USA}) have five wins between them, but her best and brightest to date is the aforementioned Wild Ruler, who now stands at Newgate Farm.
A $525,000 Inglis Easter graduate from Kia Ora Stud’s draft, Wild Ruler’s six wins were all at stakes level; on top of the Moir, he nabbed the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint and the G2 Roman Consul Stakes, plus three Listed or Restricted Listed races. He ran third in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and second in the G3 Concorde Stakes to Nature Strip (Nicconi) in the year the latter won the Everest.
Wild Ruler | Standing at Newgate Farm
Wild Ruler’s first 2-year-olds hit the track this spring, and his daughter The Wildling made an impression on debut in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes where she was beaten less than two lengths.
“Wild Ruler was one of her early foals, and it’s a proud moment to have your brand on a stallion, especially one that’s a Group 1 winner,” Wright said. “It’s great to have watched him succeed on the race track and to now follow his offspring's journeys.”
“It’s a proud moment to have your brand on a stallion.” - Shane Wright
Gypsy Robin has visited Wild Ruler’s sire Snitzel almost every second season since going to stud. In the absence of one Champion Sire, with whom she has combined so well, it made sense to send her to another champion for this year’s covering. Wright was pleased to confirm the mare had scanned in foal to I Am Invincible - which will no doubt yield another foal bound for Inglis Easter.
