Cover image courtesy of Kia Ora Stud
Kia Ora Stud has been quick to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to supporting its stallions with quality bloodstock following the recent consolidation of its stallion operations with Vinery Stud.
The renowned Hunter Valley nursery continues to strengthen its position through ongoing investment in top-level bloodstock, securing a number of standout fillies and mares to further enhance the depth and quality of the farm’s portfolio.
This in turn creates valuable opportunities for leading second season sire Farnan and Kia Ora-bred Group 1-winning freshman sire Tropicus, with both stallions poised to capitalise on the quality of Kia Ora’s broodmare ranks.
Making long-term investments
For Bloodstock and Breeding Manager Shane Wright, the approach is simple: invest in quality while continuing to build towards long-term success.
“We know the standard we want to maintain at Kia Ora and that drives every decision we make from a breeding and bloodstock perspective,” said Wright. “Our philosophy continues to be sourcing quality mares from proven families that give us every opportunity to breed top-class racehorses.
“We know the standard we want to maintain at Kia Ora and that drives every decision we make from a breeding and bloodstock perspective.” - Shane Wright
“The market remains incredibly competitive, but we’ve been really pleased with the calibre of fillies and mares we’ve been able to secure across this year’s sales series.
“We see these mares as important long-term investments in the future of the farm and particularly in our continued support of Farnan and now Tropicus moving forward.”
Across the 2026 sales season, Kia Ora Stud has remained active at the top end of the market, purchasing eight fillies and three colts at the yearling sales, in addition to 10 mares across the Inglis Chairman’s Sale and Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Shane Wright | Image courtesy of Kia Ora Stud
Among Kia Ora’s acquisitions is G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes winner Sassy Boom (Spirit Of Boom), purchased for $575,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, chosen for her ability to provide an appealing outcross for G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Farnan.
“She’s a high-quality mare with plenty of depth to her page, coming from one of Emirates Park’s best families and is closely related to Golden Slipper winner Mossfun,” Wright said. “We felt she was a great fit for both Farnan and the farm.”
Gala Queen (Deep Field) was another standout addition for Kia Ora, with the stakes-winning 3-year-old secured for $470,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale from a family that continues to make its mark on the racetrack and in the sales ring.
“She’s (Gala Queen) an attractive mare from a very current and commercial family.” - Shane Wright
“She’s an attractive mare from a very current and commercial family,” Wright said. “Her half-sister Semana sold for $1.55 million at Chairman’s last year, while her Farnan half-brother made $750,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, so there’s already been a lot of strong endorsement around the family.”
Gala Queen | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
American appeal
Among the stud’s in-foal mare purchases was imported dual stakes winner Ippodamia’s Girl (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}), who was secured for $625,000 at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB) and Heaven Forbid (USA) (Violence {USA}) was purchased at Magic Millions in foal to Toronado (Ire).
The latter descends from one of Australasia’s most influential families as a granddaughter of Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad), whose remarkable legacy includes sires Redoute's Choice, Platinum Scissors, and Manhattan Rain, and the stakes producers The Broken Shore (Hussonet {USA}) and Echoes Of Heaven (Encosta De Lago), among many others.
Ippodamia’s Girl (USA) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We’ve had great success with mares carrying the USA suffix, including Gypsy Robin, the dam of G1 Moir Stakes winner Wild Ruler and of course, Pavitra, whom we enjoyed plenty of success with winning at Group level and a pair of unlucky Group 1 seconds,” said Wright.
“We’ve had great success with mares carrying the USA suffix.” - Shane Wright
The Kia Ora foaling yards have also been the place where Jennifer Lynette (Can) (Elusive Quality {USA}) foaled Listed-winning entire Royal Tribute (Snitzel) and More Than Real (More Than Ready {USA}) produced Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock), the stakes-winning dam of G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) amongst her three stakes winners.
Building the team
Multiple Group placegetter and $600,000 Chairman’s purchase Vestas (Toronado {Ire}) will join the Kia Ora Stud racing team and fly the stud’s iconic silks alongside Group-winning fillies Inkaruna (I Am Invincible) and Pembrey (Prague).
The Kia Ora team also looks forward to welcoming home Straight Sets (Prague), the winner of both her starts in the spring who comes from a family close to the stud’s heart.
Vestas | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We’ve purchased mares at a range of different price points, but we’re particularly excited to be bringing Kia Ora-bred Straight Sets back to the farm,” Wright said.
“We paid a fair bit for her three-time Group-winning dam Sabatini at the National Broodmare Sale back in 2018, and Straight Sets later became the highest-priced yearling by Prague when she sold for $375,000.
“It’s great to have a piece of that (Sabatini's) family back at Kia Ora.” - Shane Wright
“Unfortunately, we lost Sabatini a couple of years ago so it’s great to have a piece of that family back at Kia Ora.
Sustaining support
A large number of the mares purchased throughout the sales season are expected to visit Farnan this spring, with Kia Ora continuing to heavily support the leading young sire both through new acquisitions and the farm’s existing broodmare band.
“We’ve been really deliberate with the mares we’ve targeted this year and a lot of them have been purchased specifically with Farnan and Tropicus in mind. We plan on sending 30 plus mares to both stallions this coming season, so securing young, well-performed mares was a priority at this year’s sales,” Wright said.
“We plan on sending 30 plus mares to both stallions this coming season, so securing young, well-performed mares was a priority at this year’s sales.” - Shane Wright
“Farnan is doing a fantastic job with his biggest and strongest books yet to come. We’ve always believed in supporting our stallions with quality mares and the calibre of mares purchased for him this year solidifies this.
“We’re equally excited about getting behind Tropicus and giving him every opportunity moving forward. It’s especially pleasing with him being a homebred and some of Kia Ora’s best mares will be going to him, so he will be given every chance for success.”
“We’re equally excited about getting behind Tropicus and giving him every opportunity moving forward.” - Shane Wright
The Kia Ora broodmare band is also expected to patronise the other stallions on the Vinery roster.
“With our close relationship and major investment in Vinery, we also anticipate putting a fair amount of support behind Ole Kirk, Hawaii Five Oh and All Too Hard for the matings that are better suited to these stallions also,” Wright said.
Farnan | Standing at Vinery Stud
The continued investment across the operation reflects Kia Ora Stud’s long-term commitment to building a sustainable and high-performing breeding program. With a growing band of quality broodmares and a racing team that has enjoyed another outstanding season, Kia Ora Stud enters its next chapter with significant momentum and a clear focus on continuing to produce elite results on the racetrack.
