LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 9 April 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Waikato Stud have announced their service fees for the upcoming breeding season.
With Super Seth’s recent departure to Coolmore Stud, the farm will offer a six-strong stallion roster, with the addition of freshman sire Return To Conquer, who was unbeaten in his four starts as a juvenile for Te Akau Racing, including the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).
The son of Snitzel will stand his first season at stud for a fee of $15,000+GST.
“He’s an incredible horse to look at and many will remember him from Magics being a A$1.3 million yearling,” Waikato Stud General Manager Mike Rennie said.
“He’s an unbeaten Group One-winning son of Snitzel, who we know is working with the New Zealand broodmare band.
“All four of his starts were at stakes level and he’ll get a lot of mares from the Waikato broodmare band as well as shareholders. He’s phenomenal value when you consider his breeding, his looks and what he did on the racetrack.”
New Zealand Hall of Fame inductee and 10-time New Zealand Champion Sire Savabeel will serve a limited book of mares this coming breeding season, with his book set to private.
“Sav still enjoys his work and he looks great,” Rennie said. “While he’s set at private, on the track he’s certainly not done yet. Belle Cheval was incredibly impressive in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes, and on Saturday in Australia, Essentric Nature recorded his 158th stakes winner.
“He’s closing in on Zabeel’s record of 166 stakes winners and we’re confident he’ll get there. That’ll be another good milestone to tick off for Sav.”
Ocean Park had a memorable season on the track, producing 10 stakes winners, highlighted by his quinella in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) with his daughters Ohope Wins and Autumn Glory, and he will stand for a fee of $15,000+GST.
“He’s always got a good, tough horse, and Ohope Wins is a great example of that this season,” Rennie said. “As is Autumn Glory, who placed in the Gr.1 NZ Derby and Oaks.
“They’re good trainers’ horses because they enjoy their work, they’re tough and they train on. Look at Kovalica who is six-years old and raced 37 times, he’s still contesting those black-type races, he’s amassed A$4,390,250 prizemoney over in Australia for Chris Waller, who bought two of his five yearlings at Karaka with John O’Shea and Tom Charlton and Ballymore being the others.”
Ardrossan is going from strength-to-strength and currently boasts a strike-rate of eight percent stakes winners to runners, and he will be available this coming season for a fee of $20,000+GST.
“Ardy’s a sire we believe is going to kick some serious goals in the coming seasons,” Rennie said. “What he’s been able to achieve so far has been from a lower profile of mare, which is phenomenal.
“The last three seasons that quality has increased a significant amount and we saw that in the sales ring this year.”
Noverre’s eldest crop are two-year-olds and Waikato Stud believe his progeny will start to hit their straps at three. He will stand for a fee of $10,000+GST.
“It wouldn’t surprise us to see them step out as spring three-year-olds and really make a mark,” Rennie said. “Reports from trainers are they’re straightforward and will benefit from a bit of time, and it was good to see trainers securing the Noverres again at the yearling sales.”
The farm’s stallion roster will be rounded out by Banquo, who will stand for an increased fee of $5,000+GST after he secured his first stakes win as a sire this year courtesy of Justin Case in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m), who also ran fourth in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).
“Banquo’s progeny are showing us real promise, headlined by Justin Case who has risen through the grades quickly and will make an exciting three-year-old,” Rennie said. “Current three-year-olds Portland and Mr Bombasa, who won on Monday, look to be workmen-like too. The feedback we are getting from people like Jamie Beatson of Ohukia and Kris Shailer is that they love them.”
