Cover image courtesy of Race Images
A syndicate led by Windsor Park Stud, Mapperley Stud, and Lion Rock Bloodstock have announced their purchase of New Zealand Champion 3YO Colt Savaglee (NZ), a multiple Group-winning son of 10-time New Zealand Champion Sire Savabeel, to stand at stud.
The 4-year-old colt’s retirement was announced earlier in the week by his ownership, The Oaks Stud, who also announced they would not be standing him on their own roster. The syndication deal was finalised on Friday, with The Oaks Stud proprietor Dick Karreman remaining in his ownership. It has yet to be decided if he will stand at Windsor Park or Mapperley Stud.
A star from the beginning
“He has been on our radar from day one,” said Windsor Park principal Rodney Schick. “He has been a very exciting horse from the moment he stepped out, who became a very exciting 3-year-old with a beautiful pedigree.”
"He (Savaglee) has been a very exciting horse from the moment he stepped out." - Rodney Schick
Rodney Schick | Image courtesy of Windsor Park
Bred by Waikato Stud, Savaglee was a NZ$400,000 purchase for The Oaks manager Rick Williams on behalf of Karreman out of Book 1 of the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale.
He is the best performed offspring of Glee (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), a full sister to the dam of dual Group 1 winner and Champion 3YO Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel). From his third dam Head Of The River (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}), he is closely related to the Group 1 winners Sepals (Calyx {GB}), Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), and Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}).
A winner over 900 metres on debut in the October of his juvenile year, Savaglee was trained by Pam Gerard and added the G3 Matamata Slipper to his record in the autumn before running a gallant fourth in the G1 Sistema Stakes.
At three is where he really flourished, winning the G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas, G2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes, and the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas in quick succession during a colourful spring.
He struck again in the following January with victory in the G2 Levin Classic and attacked the G1 BCD Sprint next, where he finished third, missing out on second by a head to Australian raider Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}). This merited a trip across the Tasman to the G1 Australian Guineas, where he ran second to Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) by just three quarters of a length.
Savaglee | Image courtesy of Race Images
As his career winds up and stud life beckons, the entire has amassed more than NZ$1.1 million in prizemoney across 17 starts, seven of which he won.
The idea to sell
The Oaks Stud stands three stallions, plus cares for pensioned sire Darci Brahma (NZ), but Savaglee was not destined to join the roster, as Karreman looks to wind up operations at his farm. As discussed by Williams earlier in the week, the farm is on the market as Karreman looks to wind up his breeding operations.
When the opportunity arose, Schick and the syndicate, which also secured G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner Profondo after his racing career, moved quickly to secure a horse who greatly appealed to them.
“We were immediately interested in him so we made an offer,” said Schick. “We have got a really good group together to buy him - so, done deal.”
Dick Karreman | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
While a base has yet to be decided, the team knew they had to move fast if they wanted to acquire him, and feel fortunate that they could do so. Schick highlighted that the syndicate were thrilled to secure a colt of Savaglee’s “calibre and quality” to stand at stud.
"Dick (Karreman) has invested so much into New Zealand’s breeding and racing industry over a long period of time with so much success, and Savaglee really is testament to that." - Rodney Schick
“I am really appreciative that Dick Karreman and Rick Williams have been so good to deal with throughout the process of our negotiations,” he said. “Dick has invested so much into New Zealand’s breeding and racing industry over a long period of time with so much success, and Savaglee really is testament to that.”
A promising future
“I’m really excited to again be involved with Windsor Park and Lion Rock in securing a superb stallion prospect,” said Mapperley Stud owner Simms Davison.
“I loved him when we inspected him at The Oaks, he oozes quality and style and has a magnificent physique. Together with his race performance and pedigree, he really is the total stud package.”
"Together with his (Savaglee's) race performance and pedigree, he really is the total stud package." - Simms Davison
A service fee has yet to be announced, with the expectation that it will be released within the coming days.
“He’s very desirable,” said Schick. “He has Australian form with his Guineas placing, he was Champion 3YO in New Zealand. He was very fast - he was the third fastest 2000 Guineas winner since the times have been recorded. His father is an exceptional stallion, one that we have owned a share in and he has been unbelievable both for us and New Zealand.”
"He (Savaglee) was the third fastest 2000 Guineas winner since the times have been recorded." - Rodney Schick
There is an aura of excitement about standing such a well credentialled son of Savabeel.
“He’s a really exciting horse,” said Schick. “He is going to be very well supported here. We have a large broodmare band between everyone in the group, and we anticipate plenty of outside support as well. I can see him being booked out in a matter of days. He is going to have a real chance as a young stallion.”
