Remarkable Savabeel leads Waikato Stud roster for 2026
Waikato Stud’s Chittick family have been breeding, rearing and developing elite racehorses at its Matamata property since the 1990s with a cavalcade of outstanding stallions going back to champion sire Centaine (Century).
Multiple champion NZ sires O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) and Pins (Snippets) followed and Waikato Stud’s current roster loses nothing on that score with ten-time champion sire Savabeel (Zabeel) continuing the world-renowned Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor) – Zabeel sireline in 2026.
General manager Mike Rennie released this year’s roster and service fees on Wednesday offering breeders proven performance, emerging momentum and genuine depth across the board through Savabeel, his sire son Noverre, Ardrossan (Redoute’s Choice), Ocean Park (Thorn Park), Banquo (Written Tycoon) and the exciting Group 1-winning recruit Return To Conquer (Snitzel).
“We are incredibly proud of the line-up and one we are proud to show clients,” Rennie said. “It also reflects the long-term thinking and tradition that has played such a big part in our success. We know how hard it is to make a stallion and, even more so these days, to acquire one.
“This year has been a big one for Waikato Stud and our partners with Coolmore purchasing Super Seth and three generations of the Chittick family investing in Return To Conquer. At the end of the day though, we can’t do it without the support of our fellow breeders and current shareholders.”
Savabeel was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2025. He has made an extraordinary contribution to the Australasian industry and this year, his book will be private, with Waikato Stud and his loyal shareholders the only breeders with access to the breed-shaping influence.
“What more can you say about a stallion who has achieved so much?” Rennie continued. “Sav still enjoys his work and he looks great. While he’s set at private, on the track he’s certainly not done yet.
“Belle Cheval was incredibly impressive in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes and his 158th stakes winner arrived on Saturday when Essentric Nature was successful in the Old Comrade Stakes in Perth.
“He’s closing in on Zabeel’s record of 166 stakes winners and we’re confident he will get there. And that will be another major milestone to tick off for Sav.”
Rennie has been based at Waikato Stud since 2018 and he played an integral role in the successful career of Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Super Seth (Dundeel) alongside the Chittick family and the WS team. Now they will help lay the foundations for the career of another exciting addition to Waikato Stud’s stallion roster in Return To Conquer.
In an unbeaten four-race career, the son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) scored at stakes level only, landing the Counties Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m), Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (Gr 3, 1200m), Matamata Slipper (Gr 3, 1200m), and Sistema Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) – recouping over $530,000 of his $1.3 million purchase price in the process.
“Return To Conquer is an incredible horse to look at and many will remember him from the Magic Millions being a AU$1.3 million yearling. He’s an unbeaten Group 1-winning son of Snitzel who we know is working well with NZ broodmares,” Rennie said.
“All four of his starts were at stakes level and he will get a lot of mares from the Waikato broodmare band as well as shareholders. He’s phenomenal value when you consider his breeding, looks and what he did on the racetrack.”
Return To Conquer will stand for $15,000 (plus GST).
Ardrossan, the Group-winning son of Redoute’s Choice (Danehill), looks poised to soar after his biggest yearling crop to date sold to $450,000 at the majors in 2026. He had 17 yearlings make six figures while 60 per cent of his NZB Karaka draft was secured by international buyers.
Among those to invest in Ardrossan yearlings were Bjorn Baker, Ciaron Maher, Cliff Brown, Matt Laurie, Sheamus Mills and Shailer Racing while loyal local supporters included Wexford Stables and Ready To Run vendor Ohukia Lodge.
“Ardrossan is going to kick some serious goals in the coming seasons. What he’s been able to achieve so far has been from mainly lower profile mares,” Rennie said.
“The last three seasons that quality has increased a significant amount and we saw that in the sales ring this year.
“They’re tough and Hong Kong loves them with eight winners from 12 runners. The Ready To Run consigners honed in on them at the yearling sales this year. It was trainers versus trade buyers bidding against each other most of the time.”
Ardrossan has already produced two stakes performers from his current juvenile crop in De Armas and Butler Cabin and he will stand this season for $20,000 (plus GST).
Ocean Park has had a watershed season producing 78 individual winners for ten stakes performers including two Group 1 horses. A five-time Group 1 winner in Australia and New Zealand, his racing career was underpinned by consistency and his stud career has produced 379 winners of 1038 races across distances from 1200 metres to 3200 metres. He has sired five individual Group 1 winners with 26 black-type winners overall.
“He always gets a good, tough horse and a great example this season is Ohope Wins,” Rennie said. “So is Autumn Glory who was placed in the Group 1 NZ Derby and Group 1 NZ Oaks. They’re good trainers’ horses because they enjoy their work, they’re tough and they train on.
“Look at Kovalica. He’s rising seven and is still contesting black-type races. He’s amassed AU$4.4 million for Chris Waller who bought two of his five yearlings at Karaka along with John O’Shea and Ballymore Racing.”
Ocean Park was renowned for his remarkable toughness and enduring soundness; qualities which have been passed to his progeny. He will stand for $15,000 (plus GST).
Noverre is the sire of first-crop autumn two-year-olds but Waikato Stud believes we will start to see his progeny make a mark as three-year-olds. At the 2026 yearling sales, trainers continued to have confidence in him with Peter Moody going to $200,000 while other trainers included Lindsay Park, Grahame Begg and Wexford.
“Trainers are reporting they’re straightforward and will benefit from a bit of time so it was good to see them securing the Noverre yearlings again at Karaka earlier this year,” Rennie added.
Noverre will stand for $10,000 (plus GST) this season.
Banquo is a stallion who is having to prove himself the hard way. From seven runners he has produced three winners, including the Group 3-winning two-year-old Justin Case who, from four starts, has won twice and ran fourth in the Sistema Stakes.
Banquo hails from a strong Australian sprinting family being a full-brother to Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m) winner Booker. A good-looking son of Written Tycoon (Iglesia), he was an AU$600,000 Magic Millions yearling who sires good-looking stock.
“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,” said Rennie.
“Current three-year-olds Portland and Mr Bombasa, who won on Monday, look to be workmen-like, too. The feedback from people like Jamie Beatson of Ohukia and Kris Shailer is that they love them.”
Banquo will stand for an increased fee of $5,000 (plus GST).