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Memorable day for Waikato Stud stallion headed by Group 1 winner Concert Hall
Waikato Stud-based supersire Savabeel (Zabeel) enjoyed one of the most memorable days as a stallion as he sired a stakes treble at Ellerslie on Saturday headed by Concert Hall’s (6 m Classic Legacy by Carnegie) victory in the Zabeel Classic (Gr 1, 2000m). This victory saw his Group 1-winning haul move to 21, while the wins of Amarelinha (3 f ex Hopscotch by O'Reilly) and Brando (3 c ex Saoirse by Iffraaj) saw his total stakes-winning tally swell to 108.
Prepared for owner and breeder Joan Egan by co-trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Concert Hall stormed home out wide to snatch victory, beating Supera - who is also by Savabeel - by a quarter of a length, while In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) was another head away in third.
Co-trainer Roger James cut a relieved figure after the race as he acknowledged he had been supremely confident leading into the race.
“I said to a couple of my close friends on the way up here today that I thought she was the stable’s best chance,” James said.
“It might sound cocky as I know you don’t win them (Group 1 races) out of turn, but the 2000 metres and the better track was always going to play right into her hands.
“Quite honestly though, at the 100 metre mark I didn’t think she could win it.
“It was a good effort off a slow tempo and to come from that far off them when they quickened up front, she is a good mare.”
Concert Hall is the only winner out of four time-winning Carnegie (Sadler’s Wells) mare Classic Legacy.
The mare hails from the same family as Group 1 scorer Lee’s Bid (Tawfiq), who in turn produced fellow Group 1 winner Arena (Danehill).
Further back this is also the same family as Listed winners Sequel Sound (Sound Reason) and Ultra Sound (Sound Reason), who in turn produced Group1 winner Tartan Tights (Tights) - the dam of Group 2 scorer Nevis (Danehill).
In 2018 Classic Legacy produced a filly by Rich Hill Stud-shuttler Vadamos (Monsun).
The impressive trifecta was kicked off by Brando, who grabbed his first victory at stakes level when he landed the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m).
Trained by Jamie Richards, the three-year-old colt took his record to three wins and one placing from four starts when he got the better of The Irishman (Tavistock), beating him by a length and a quarter. Illumination (Iffraaj) was another three-quarters of a length away in third.
Offered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2019 Ready to Run Sale by Riversley Park, Brando was knocked down to Te Akau’s David Ellis for NZ$500,000 having failed to make his NZ$200,000 at Book 1 of last year’s Karaka National Yearling Sale and he is out of dual-winning Iffraaj (Zafonic) mare Saoirse.
Saoirse is herself a daughter of Listed winner Eire Hostess (O’Reilly) and further afield this is the same family as 2006 Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Headturner (Anabaa) and Anacheeva (Anabaa), who landed the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) in 2010, as well as Group 2 scorer Kroner (Viking Ruler).
Belmont Bloodstock and McEvoy Mitchell Racing purchased Brando’s sister for NZ$310,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale, while in 2019 in 2019 Saoirse foaled a filly by Tivaci (High Chaparral).
Richards is now looking to aim Brando at the Levin Classic (Gr 1, 1600m).
“He’s a colt I’ve always had a lot of time for,” Richards said. “David (Ellis, Te Akau Racing principal) bought him from the Ready to Run Sale and paid a bit of money for him, but we like to try and develop these colts into stallions and he’s heading in the right direction.
“It’s only his fourth start, so the form around him is really good and up to a mile in the Levin Classic looks perfect.
“He’s right up there with Hall of Fame and Age of Fire, horses that have won the Levin Classic for us previously.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. Hall of Fame came out of the Ready to Run Sale as well and is probably quite similar to this horse – both by Savabeel.
“Because of COVID-19, he never raced as a two-year-old, but he’s a pretty exciting horse to have around. We’ll look to the Levin Classic, and if he continues to progress the right way, we may even look at Australia. There are plenty of options for a horse like him.”
Two races later, Brando’s stablemate Amarelinha also broke through for her maiden stakes win when she landed the Eight Carat Classic (Gr 2, 1600m).
The filly came into the race having broken her maiden on her second start on December 5 and she had no issues with the step up in class, beating Fleetwood Maca (Rock ‘N’ Pop) by a length and a quarter, while Moana (Ocean Park) was another length and a half away in third.
“She quickened very well today and looked like a good filly,” Richards said.
“She’s a filly I’ve always had quite a big opinion of. When David bought her at Karaka, I said that I thought she looked a bit like Probabeel.
“She’s got a lovely pedigree, she’s by the right stallion and has that great Waikato Stud brand as well. She’s got a good future.”
Despite being held in such regard by the stable, Amarelinha’s debut was delayed until mid-November at Awapuni.
“She won a trial at Te Teko back in August, and a lot of very good horses have come out of those trials,” Richards said.
“We thought she looked like a lovely filly for the 1000 Guineas, but she just had a few little setbacks through the spring.
“That extra time has turned out to be a blessing, and she’s a filly who’s in a great space at the moment.
“I think 2000 metres and 2400 metres will be no problem at all for her, so I think we’ve got a bit to look forward to in the new year with her.”
Purchased by Ellis for NZ$300,000 at Book 1 of the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale, the filly is out of unraced O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) mare Hopscotch, meaning the filly is bred on the same cross as 18 stakes winners, headed by five Group 1 winners; Savvy Coup, Costume, Diademe, Savaria and Embellish.
Hopscotch herself is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Metal Bender (Danasinga), while Group 3-winning pair North Pacific (Brazen Beau) and Missybeel (Savabeel) also feature on the page.
In 2018, Hopscotch produced a filly by Savabeel and she was purchased by Brewers Bloodstock for NZ$190,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale and in 2019 she foaled another filly by the Waikato Stud-based sire.
Five-time champion sire Savabeel - who stood at Waikato Stud for NZ$100,000 (plus GST) this year - has 44 lots catalogued for Karaka 2021 - Book 1. He currently sits at the head of the New Zealand sires table with his progeny earnings totalling NZ$130,750, almost NZ$300,000 clear of nearest rival Darci Brahma (Danehill).
