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Belardo secures first season sire crown; Contributer crowned Champion second season sire; Mr Brightside tipped for Toorak; Awards and Stallion Parades combined
Belardo secures first season sire crown
Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Belardo secured the 2020-21 title of New Zealand's leading first season sire with Yeaboi's runner-up result in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Saturday.
Belardo finished the season with four winners from 20 runners in New Zealand, including three black-type performers.
Avonallo was Belardo's flag bearing juvenile, having won the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton in November before placing in the $1 million Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie in January.
Belardo's other stakes performers in New Zealand last season included Fonsallette, who was runner-up in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m), and Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), and Yeaboi, who rounded out the season with Saturday's runner-up effort in the Ryder Stakes.
Belardo has also made a promising start in Australia with two winners from five runners in his debut crop.
Haunui Farm's Managing Director Mark Chitty is delighted by the result.
"Belardo has certainly made a great start and to take out the Champion First Season Sire title is credit to all the broodmare owners who have supported him," Chitty said.
"He's left some early running types but I think we might see some nice Classic horses this season and beyond, perhaps along the lines of what we've seen from his grand-sire, Shamardal and if Belardo can be half as good a stallion, we'll be very happy."
Belardo will return to Haunui Farm this coming breeding season where he will stand for a fee of NZ$10,000 + GST.
Contributer crowned Champion second season sire
Mapperley Stud stallion Contributer has been crowned New Zealand's Champion second season sire.
The son of High Chaparral sired 13 individual winners in New Zealand, notching up 18 separate victories and accumulating a total $354,916 in stakes.
His star performer was Llanacord, the winner of the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m), while he also sired the stakes performers Follow Your Dreams, Lily's Dream and Miss Dixie.
Contributer's status continued to rise with some exceptional performances in Australia where he sired first crop Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner and million-dollar earner Lion's Roar.
He added another 13 individual winners in Australia, from only 28 runners.
Contributer will stand at Mapperley Stud this coming breeding season for a fee of $22,000 + GST.
Mr Brightside tipped for Toorak
The Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) is on the tongue of trainers Ben and JD Hayes when referencing Mr Brightside after his win over a mile at Sandown on Sunday.
It was the first Melbourne winner for the brothers who have recently joined forces at Lindsay Park, and they were buoyed by the win.
"It is really good to just get that first metro winner with my brother JD," Ben Hayes told Racing.com.
"We've been knocking on the door, lots of seconds and it's been very frustrating but it's really good to get it and in the new season as well."
Hayes said Mr Brightside reminds him of 2016 Toorak Handicap winner He's Our Rokkii who was also sourced as an inexperienced horse from New Zealand.
"The way he won here today, he can go straight to the city (on a Saturday) and be ultra-competitive. I think a Toorak, that could be a race he could pop up in if he keeps improving but he has to do that still."
The four-year-old gelding by Bullbars was initially trained in New Zealand by Ralph Manning for whom he ran a luckless fifth in his sole New Zealand start in a strong race at Matamata won by Comme Bella Fille.
Awards and Stallion Parades combined
This year for the first time the Gavelhouse.com Waikato Stallion Parade weekend will be held in conjunction with the National Breeding Awards.
All are welcome to attend the stallion parades which take place over the weekend of Saturday August 21 and Sunday August 22, with over 30 of New Zealand's premier stallions on show.
The Ebbett Hamilton National Breeding Awards will take place on the evening of Saturday August 21 (6pm at the Mystery Creek Events Centre), providing the opportunity to celebrate New Zealand bred success.
For more information as to how to purchase tickets for the awards, Click Here
2021Gavelhouse.com Waikato Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stallion Parade Schedule
Saturday August 21st
9.30am.......... Mapperley Stud
(Complacent, Contributer & Puccini)
10.15am......... Valachi Downs
(Savile Row & Vespa)
11am.............. Matamata Racetrack
(Ocean Emperor)
11.30am......... Waikato Stud
(Ardrossan, Ocean Park, Savabeel, Super Seth & Tivaci)
lunch provided1.15pm.......... Rich Hill Stud
(Ace High, Proisir, Satono Aladdin*, Shocking & Vadamos)
2.15pm.......... Brighthill Farm
(Dalghar, Eminent & Preferment)
*Satono Aladdin doesn't arrive in NZ until August 26th, if you would like to see him please contact Rich Hill Stud for a private parade following his arrival.
Sunday August 22nd
10.15am........ Highview Stud
(Wrote)
10.45am......... Norwegian Park
(Echoes of Heaven & What's The Story)
11.30am......... Windsor Park Stud
(Circus Maximus, Shamexpress, Mongolian Khan, Turn Me Loose, Rageese & Vanbrugh)
lunch provided1.15pm.......... The Oaks Stud
(Darci Brahma, Niagara, Roc de Cambes & U S Navy Flag)
2.15pm.......... Novara Park
(King of Comedy, Staphanos & Sweynesse)
3.00pm......... Cambridge Stud
(Almanzor, Embellish & Hello Youmzain)
